Bornean pithecheirops
| Bornean pithecheirops | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Tribe: | Millardini |
| Genus: | Pithecheirops Emmons, 1993 |
| Species: | P. otion |
| Binomial name | |
| Pithecheirops otion Emmons, 1993 | |
The Bornean pithecheirops (Pithecheirops otion), or Emmons's tree rat,[2] is a species of rodent found in Borneo. It is monotypic in the genus Pithecheirops. Pithecheirops is closely related to the genus Pithecheir, and the name is derived from Pithecheir and the Greek ops, meaning "resembling".[3] The only known example of this species was caught in the Danum Valley Field Centre in Sabah, north Borneo, at approximately 150 m.[4]
Description
[edit]It is similar to species in the genus Pithecheir, both having long, dense, soft fur and broad feet. The species is distinguished by the appearance of the inner ear bones and auditory bulla.[3]
Habitat
[edit]It was found in "dense viny roadside secondary brush on an abandoned logging road".[4] The dominant habitat of the area is lowland dipterocarp forest. IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient due to this being the only known example of the species. There is no information on population numbers or distribution to indicate if the species is at risk or not. Despite the location of its discovery, it may be intolerant to logging, preferring possibly primary forest.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Gerrie, R. & Kennerley, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Pithecheirops otion". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T136834A115212557. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T136834A22411850.en. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
- ↑ D'Souza, Ashley (12 August 2026). "Who Has Opposable Thumbs and a Prehensile Tail? This Tree Rat That Few Have Ever Seen". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
- 1 2 Emmons, Louise H. (1993). "A new genus and species of rat from Borneo (Rodentia: Muridae)". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 106 (4): 752–761.
- 1 2 Musser, G.G. & Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.
External links
[edit]
Data related to Bornean pithecheirops at Wikispecies
