The woolly giant rat (Kunsia tomentosus) is a species of large burrowing rodent native to South America.[1] No subspecies are currently recognised. It is the only member of the genus Kunsia.
The woolly giant rat is an exceptionally large rat, the largest living species of sigmodontine rodent, with short limbs and powerful claws. Nonetheless, individuals vary considerably in size, ranging from 19 to 29 cm (7.5 to 11.4 in) in head-body length, with a relatively short tail 15 to 20 cm (5.9 to 7.9 in) long. Body weight varies from 240 to 630 g (8.5 to 22.2 oz); no other sigmodontine species has a maximum weight above 400 g (14 oz). The fur is thick and coarse, with an almost uniform shade of dark grey or brown across the whole of the body, although slightly paler on the throat and underside. The tail is scaly and almost hairless, and dark grey to blackish in colour. The rhinarium is large, and the ears short and rounded. Females have eight teats.[2]
Distribution and habitat
Woolly giant rats inhabit the cerrado of central Brazil, and the Llanos de Moxos of northern Bolivia between 60 and 750 m (200 and 2,460 ft) elevation. Within Brazil, they are recorded from the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso and Rondônia. The rats live in areas of open grassland, grassy shrub, and savannah woodland, and are not found in more densely forested habitats.[2]
Biology and behaviour
The rats are omnivorous, feeding on the roots of grasses, and on termites and orthoptera, which they locate by smell.[3] They are thought to be either nocturnal or crepuscular,[2] but to spend most of the time underground in burrows, emerging primarily during the rainy season.[1] Little is known of the rats' biology, although they are thought to breed twice a year.[3]
References
^ abcMarinho Filho, J.; Vieira, E. (2016). "Kunsia tomentosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T11061A22388811. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T11061A22388811.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ abBezerra, A.M.R.; et al. (June 2007). "New data on the distribution, natural history and morphology of Kunsia tomentosus (Lichtenstein, 1830) (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1505: 1–18. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1505.1.1.
January 30, 2023
woolly, giant, woolly, giant, kunsia, tomentosus, species, large, burrowing, rodent, native, south, america, subspecies, currently, recognised, only, member, genus, kunsia, tomentosus, santa, cruz, boliviaconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, c. The woolly giant rat Kunsia tomentosus is a species of large burrowing rodent native to South America 1 No subspecies are currently recognised It is the only member of the genus Kunsia Woolly giant ratK tomentosus in Santa Cruz BoliviaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily CricetidaeSubfamily SigmodontinaeGenus KunsiaSpecies K tomentosusBinomial nameKunsia tomentosusLichtenstein 1830 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Biology and behaviour 4 ReferencesDescription EditThe woolly giant rat is an exceptionally large rat the largest living species of sigmodontine rodent with short limbs and powerful claws Nonetheless individuals vary considerably in size ranging from 19 to 29 cm 7 5 to 11 4 in in head body length with a relatively short tail 15 to 20 cm 5 9 to 7 9 in long Body weight varies from 240 to 630 g 8 5 to 22 2 oz no other sigmodontine species has a maximum weight above 400 g 14 oz The fur is thick and coarse with an almost uniform shade of dark grey or brown across the whole of the body although slightly paler on the throat and underside The tail is scaly and almost hairless and dark grey to blackish in colour The rhinarium is large and the ears short and rounded Females have eight teats 2 Distribution and habitat EditWoolly giant rats inhabit the cerrado of central Brazil and the Llanos de Moxos of northern Bolivia between 60 and 750 m 200 and 2 460 ft elevation Within Brazil they are recorded from the states of Goias Mato Grosso and Rondonia The rats live in areas of open grassland grassy shrub and savannah woodland and are not found in more densely forested habitats 2 Biology and behaviour EditThe rats are omnivorous feeding on the roots of grasses and on termites and orthoptera which they locate by smell 3 They are thought to be either nocturnal or crepuscular 2 but to spend most of the time underground in burrows emerging primarily during the rainy season 1 Little is known of the rats biology although they are thought to breed twice a year 3 References Edit a b c Marinho Filho J Vieira E 2016 Kunsia tomentosus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T11061A22388811 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T11061A22388811 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 a b c Bezerra A M R Pardinas U F J January 2016 Kunsia tomentosus Rodentia Cricetidae Mammalian Species 48 930 1 9 doi 10 1093 mspecies sev013 a b Bezerra A M R et al June 2007 New data on the distribution natural history and morphology of Kunsia tomentosus Lichtenstein 1830 Rodentia Cricetidae Sigmodontinae PDF Zootaxa 1505 1 18 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 1505 1 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Woolly giant rat amp oldid 1121368276, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
