Fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat |
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| Fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Melomys
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| Species: |
cervinipes
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The fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat, also known as the fawn-footed melomys (Melomys cervinipes), is a type of rodent. It belongs to the Muridae family, which includes mice and rats. You can find this animal along the eastern coast of Australia.
Contents
About the Fawn-footed Melomys
What Does It Look Like?
This rat has soft, short fur. Its upper body is a sandy-brown color. The fur on its belly is a mix of grey and whitish.
The tail of the fawn-footed melomys is hairless. It has a purplish color. Its feet and lower legs look like a fawn's fur. This is how it got part of its name.
Where Does It Live?
The fawn-footed melomys lives in the eastern coastal areas of Australia. This includes parts of New South Wales and Queensland. It prefers habitats near the coast.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The famous naturalist John Gould first described this rat in 1852. He noticed its fawn-colored feet. So, he named it cervinipes, which means "fawn-footed." He also called it the "Buff-footed Rat."
Gould received his first specimens from a collector named Frederick Strange. Strange found these rats in places like Stradbroke Island and near the Richmond River. Local Aboriginal people had their own names for the rat.
On Stradbroke Island, they called it Corrill. Near the Richmond River, they called it Cunduoo. In the 1990s, there was a suggestion to use these original names. The Australian Nature Conservation Agency recommended using "korril." However, "fawn-footed melomys" is still a very common name today.
Images for kids
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A fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat
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Map showing where the fawn-footed melomys lives in Australia
