Tonkinomys

Tonkinomys
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Infraclass: Eutheria
Superorder: Euarchontoglires
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Myomorpha
Superfamily: Muroidea
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Murinae
Genus: Tonkinomys
Musser, 2006
Species: T. daovantieni
Species

Tonkinomys daovantieni

Tonkinomys is a genus of Muridae rodent native to northeastern Vietnam. It was first discovered in a forested talus habitat in the Huu Lien Nature Reserve, Lang Son Province.[1]

Description

The genus is destiguished from other Indomalayan murids by "semispinous, dense, grayish black fur covering upperparts; a dark gray venter; gray ears; a thick, bicolored tail considerably shorter than length of head and body; and large, extremely bulbous footpads".[1]

Its body size, build and some cranial features were described as similar to the species Leopoldamys neilli found in Thailand. Other cranial features as well as molar occlusal patterns resemble species of the Niviventer, Chiromyscus, and Saxatilomys genera native to the Indomalayan region.[1]

Habitat

The genus is petricolous, meaning it lives in a rocky habitat, and was found only in talus composed of large limestone blocks. It is thought that its distribution in the Huu Lien Nature reserve is patchy.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Musser, G.G., Lunde, D.P. & Nguyen T.S. (May 2006). "Description of a New Genus and Species of Rodent (Murinae, Muridae, Rodentia) from the Tower Karst Region of Northeastern Vietnam.". American Museum Novitates. 3517: 1–41. ISSN 0003-0082. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2006)3517[1:DOANGA]2.0.CO;2.

Data related to Tonkinomys at Wikispecies

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