Hylaeamys oniscus
Encyclopedia
Hylaeamys oniscus, also known as the Sowbug Rice Rat, is a rodent
species in the genus Hylaeamys
of family Cricetidae
. It was formerly placed in the genus Oryzomys
as Oryzomys oniscus. It occurs only in northeastern Brazil
. It is close to Hylaeamys laticeps
, which occurs further south in Brazil, and the two have been considered to be the same species.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
species in the genus Hylaeamys
Hylaeamys
Hylaeamys is a genus of South American oryzomyine rodents found principally in humid forested areas east of the Andes. The species in this genus have historically been placed in Oryzomys. They are most closely related to Euryoryzomys, Transandinomys, Nephelomys, Oecomys, and Handleyomys, and most...
of family Cricetidae
Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, and New World rats and mice...
. It was formerly placed in the genus Oryzomys
Oryzomys
Oryzomys is a genus of semiaquatic rodents in the tribe Oryzomyini living in southern North America and far northern South America. It includes eight species, two of which—the marsh rice rat of the United States and O. couesi of Mexico and Central America—are widespread; the six others have...
as Oryzomys oniscus. It occurs only in northeastern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It is close to Hylaeamys laticeps
Hylaeamys laticeps
Hylaeamys laticeps, also known as the Atlantic Forest Oryzomys or Large-headed Rice Rat, is a species of rodent in the genus Hylaeamys of family Cricetidae. It occurs in the Atlantic Forest region of southeastern Brazil...
, which occurs further south in Brazil, and the two have been considered to be the same species.
Literature cited
- Percequillo, A. and Langguth, A. 2008. . In IUCN. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.1. http://www.iucnredlist.org/. Viewed on October 31, 2009.
- Weksler, M., A. R. Percequillo, and R.S. Voss. 2006. Ten new genera of oryzomyine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae). American Museum Novitates 3537:1–29.