Large-headed rice rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Large-headed rice rat |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hylaeamys
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| Species: |
megacephalus
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| Synonyms | |
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Mus megacephalus Fischer, 1814 |
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The Large-headed rice rat, also known as Azara's broad-headed oryzomys, is a type of rodent. It belongs to the Hylaeamys group of animals, which are part of the Cricetidae family (this family includes hamsters and voles). This specific species is the main example for its group, meaning it helps define what a Hylaeamys animal is like.
You can find the Large-headed rice rat mostly in warm, wet tropical rainforests. Its original discovery place was in Paraguay. From there, it lives north through central Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. It even lives on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Other similar Hylaeamys species live nearby. For example, H. perenensis lives in the western Amazon Rainforest.
About the Large-headed Rice Rat
The Large-headed rice rat is a small mammal. It is known for its relatively large head compared to its body. Like other rice rats, it likely eats seeds, fruits, and insects. These animals play an important role in their rainforest homes. They help spread seeds and are part of the food chain.
How We Name Animals
The Large-headed rice rat was first described by a Spanish naturalist named Félix de Azara. He was a scientist who studied nature. Based on his notes, this animal was given different scientific names over time.
For many years, people used names like Mus megacephalus and Mus capito. These names were later forgotten for a long time. In 1960, the name capito was rediscovered. It was then used for many different species that are now in groups like Euryoryzomys and Hylaeamys.
Later, in 1998, a detailed study by Guy Musser and his team helped clear things up. They brought back the older name Mus megacephalus. In more recent years, scientists decided that this species and another one, H. perenensis, should be moved to a new group called Hylaeamys. This was because they were not closely related to the main species of Oryzomys, which is another group of rice rats.
