Mount Pulag tree-mouse

(Redirected from Musseromys beneficus)

The Mount Pulag tree-mouse (Musseromys beneficus)[3] is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.[1] It is found on Mount Pulag in Luzon, Philippines.[1][2]

Mount Pulag tree-mouse
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Musseromys
Species:
M. beneficus
Binomial name
Musseromys beneficus
Heaney, Balete, Rickart, Veluz & Jansa, 2014[2]

Description edit

As for all members of the genus Musseromys, they are small murids weighing between 15 and 22 g (0.53 and 0.78 oz).[2] They have tails of 82–101 mm (3.2–4.0 in) which are usually longer than the rest of their bodies 74–84 mm (2.9–3.3 in).[2]

Three adult specimens were collected, now in the collections of the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH):

  • an adult female (♀) (FMNH 198713),
  • an adult female (♀) (FMNH 198714, holotype),
  • an adult male (♂) (FMNH 198857).[2]

Their measurements are as follows :

Measurements of the holotype (adult ♀) and 2 other specimens (1 adult ♀ & 1 ♂) of Musseromys beneficus[2]
Attribute FMNH 198713 (♀) FMNH 198714 (♀, holotype) FMNH 198857 (♂)
Head-body length (mm) 75 81 84
Tail length (mm) 82 82 88
Weight (g) 18 22 22

Conservation edit

Data on this species endemic to the Philippines is, as of now, known from only one location.[2] This particularity, alongside lack of knowledge on habitats and potential threats of the species, brought the IUCN to assess the Mount Pulag tree-mouse as "Data Deficient".[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Dando, T.; Kennerly, R. (2019). "Musseromys beneficus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T112041990A112041994. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T112041990A112041994.en.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Heaney, Lawrence R.; Balete, Danilo S.; Rickart, Eric A.; Veluz, Maria Josefa; Jansa, Sharon A. (16 May 2014). "Three New Species of Musseromys (Muridae, Rodentia), the Endemic Philippine Tree Mouse from Luzon Island". American Museum Novitates (3802): 1–27. doi:10.1206/3802.1. S2CID 53542249. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Musseromys beneficus (id=1003435)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 8 February 2023.