| Scapteromys Temporal range: Late Pliocene to Recent |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Sigmodontinae |
| Tribe: | Akodontini |
| Genus: | Scapteromys Waterhouse, 1837 |
| Type species | |
| Mus tumidus Waterhouse, 1837 |
|
| Species | |
Scapteromys is a genus of South American rodents in the tribe Akodontini of family Cricetidae. Two species are known, found in northern Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.[1] They are as follows:
Both species are semiaquatic, living in and near marshes and other bodies of water. They reach a body length of 15 to 20 cm and a tail length of 13-17 cm, and weigh 110-200 g. Fur color is dark gray on top and light gray on the underside. They are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal. Their diet consists mainly of insects; they also consume other invertebrates and plant material.
The two species differ in karyotype, with aquaticus having 2n = 32 and tumidus 2n = 24.[1]