Biology
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The greater big-footed mouse is a nocturnal species, and is almost totally arboreal, spending nearly all of the night time in trees. During daylight hours it occupies an underground burrow, which is dug under a large rock or tree stump. These burrows have closed, concealed entrances, and can be recognised by the small piles of soil outside the entrance, thrown up during excavation (2). Like other species belonging to the subfamily Nesomyinae, the greater big-footed mouse is thought to be an herbivore, feeding on fruit, seeds, berries, roots and stems. They themselves are an important food source for a number of snakes, birds of prey and mammalian carnivores (4).
Conservation
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The greater big-footed mouse occurs within the Ankarafantsika National Park. Unfortunately, this area still faces the threat of frequent fires during the dry season and encroachment by grazing cattle, but international conservation organisations are working to improve the protection of the reserve (6).
Description
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This small, gerbil-like mouse has relatively large eyes which hint at its nocturnal behaviour. The upperparts are light brown to fawn with slightly more greyish underfur, and the underparts and legs are paler and often creamy-white. The ears are oval shaped, and the very long tail ends in a whitish tuft. The greater big-footed mouse belongs to the subfamily Nesomyinae, a group of 20 rodent species found only in Madagascar, and is one of only two species of Macrotarsomys (2).
Habitat
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The greater big-footed mouse has been found only in dry, deciduous forest (2) (3).
Range
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Found only in the Ankarafantsika forest, in the Mahajanga Province in north-west Madagascar (2) (3).
Status
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Classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Threats
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The greater big-footed mouse is very vulnerable to any threats due to its very restricted distribution. The dry, deciduous forests of Madagascar are threatened by burning to clear land for agriculture and grazing, selective logging and expanding rural human populations (5). Such habitat destruction and degradation will inevitably impact heavily on the greater big-footed mouse.
Greater big-footed mouse
provided by wikipedia EN
The greater big-footed mouse or long-tailed big-footed mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens) is a nocturnal rodent found only in north west Madagascar. It was first described by F. Petter in 1959.[2] It is listed as an endangered species as a result of habitat loss.
Description
The greater big-footed mouse grows to a head and body length of up to 15 cm (6 in) with an even longer tail of up to 24 cm (9 in). Its weight is 50 to 60 grams (1.8 to 2.1 oz) and it has large eyes and large oval ears. Its big feet are adapted for climbing among the branches of trees. The pelage is brownish-fawn with a greyish undercoat; the underparts and legs are creamy white.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The greater big-footed mouse is found only in Mahajanga Province in north-western Madagascar, in the Ankarafantsika forest which is now part of the Ankarafantsika National Park.[1] This is a low rainfall area with typical dry tropical vegetation. The mouse is a nocturnal species. It spends the day in a burrow in the forest floor, the entrance of which is concealed under a rock or tree root and spends the night scrambling about in bushes and trees looking for food.[3]
Biology
The greater big-footed mouse is believed to be herbivorous and probably eats berries, fruit, nuts, seeds, roots, and stems. It probably falls prey to such predators as snakes, birds and carnivorous mammals.[3]
Status
The greater big-footed mouse is listed as "Endangered" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is because, although it is fairly common in the area in which it is found, its total range amounts to a single block of less than 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi). Its habitat is subject to degradation by fire and logging and the mouse is at risk of predation by feral animals.[1]
References
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Greater big-footed mouse: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The greater big-footed mouse or long-tailed big-footed mouse (Macrotarsomys ingens) is a nocturnal rodent found only in north west Madagascar. It was first described by F. Petter in 1959. It is listed as an endangered species as a result of habitat loss.
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- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
