Megalomys luciae, also known as the Saint Lucia pilorie[2] or Saint Lucia giant rice-rat,[1] as well as several variant spellings, is an extinctrodent that lived on the island of Saint Lucia in the eastern Caribbean.
It was the size of a small cat, and it had a darker belly than Megalomys desmarestii, a closely related species from Martinique, and slender claws. Other physical features include brown/ochre dorsal coloration and white soft fur patches. Individuals had webbed hind feet, smooth heels with interdigital pads. Their tail was longer than the length of the body from head to toe; the tail contained sparse hairs and was mainly covered with epidermal scales. Their skulls were very delicate with an amphora shape.
Extinctionedit
The last known specimen died in the London Zoo in 1852, after three years of captivity.[3] It probably became extinct in the latter half of the 19th century due to introduction of the invasive small Indian mongoose, with the last record dating from 1881, right before mongoose introduction.[4] There is a stuffed specimen in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London.
Referencesedit
^ abTurvey, S.T.; Helgen, K. (2017). "Megalomys luciae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T12981A22377126. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T12981A22377126.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^Musser, G.G. and Carleton, M.D. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. Pp. 894–1531 in Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic reference. 3rd ed. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols., 2142 pp. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0
^Flannery, T. and Schouten, P. 2001. A Gap in Nature: Discovering the World's Extinct Animals. London: William Heinemann. ISBN0-434-00819-2 (UK edition)
^Ray, C.E. 1962. The Oryzomyine Rodents of the Antillean Subregion. Doctor of Philosophy thesis, Harvard University, 211 pp.
This Sigmodontinae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
megalomys, luciae, also, known, saint, lucia, pilorie, saint, lucia, giant, rice, well, several, variant, spellings, extinct, rodent, that, lived, island, saint, lucia, eastern, caribbean, stuffed, specimen, conservation, status, extinct, 1881, iucn, scientifi. Megalomys luciae also known as the Saint Lucia pilorie 2 or Saint Lucia giant rice rat 1 as well as several variant spellings is an extinct rodent that lived on the island of Saint Lucia in the eastern Caribbean Megalomys luciae Stuffed specimen Conservation status Extinct 1881 IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Cricetidae Subfamily Sigmodontinae Genus Megalomys Species M luciae Binomial name Megalomys luciae Forsyth Major 1901 Synonyms Oryzomys luciae Major 1901Description editIt was the size of a small cat and it had a darker belly than Megalomys desmarestii a closely related species from Martinique and slender claws Other physical features include brown ochre dorsal coloration and white soft fur patches Individuals had webbed hind feet smooth heels with interdigital pads Their tail was longer than the length of the body from head to toe the tail contained sparse hairs and was mainly covered with epidermal scales Their skulls were very delicate with an amphora shape Extinction editThe last known specimen died in the London Zoo in 1852 after three years of captivity 3 It probably became extinct in the latter half of the 19th century due to introduction of the invasive small Indian mongoose with the last record dating from 1881 right before mongoose introduction 4 There is a stuffed specimen in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London References edit a b Turvey S T Helgen K 2017 Megalomys luciae IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T12981A22377126 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T12981A22377126 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 Musser G G and Carleton M D 2005 Superfamily Muroidea Pp 894 1531 in Wilson D E and Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World a taxonomic and geographic reference 3rd ed Baltimore The Johns Hopkins University Press 2 vols 2142 pp ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 Flannery T and Schouten P 2001 A Gap in Nature Discovering the World s Extinct Animals London William Heinemann ISBN 0 434 00819 2 UK edition Ray C E 1962 The Oryzomyine Rodents of the Antillean Subregion Doctor of Philosophy thesis Harvard University 211 pp nbsp This Sigmodontinae article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Saint Lucia related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Megalomys luciae amp oldid 1157624168, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
