Chilean climbing mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chilean climbing mouseTemporal range: Recent
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Irenomys
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| Species: |
tarsalis
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| Synonyms | |
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Mus tarsalis Philippi, 1900 |
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The Irenomys tarsalis, also called the Chilean climbing mouse or Chilean tree mouse, is a type of rodent. It lives in Chile and nearby parts of Argentina. You can mostly find it in forests.
This mouse is quite large and has a long tail. Its fur is very soft. It has special incisor teeth with grooves and unique molar teeth. These molars have ridges that help it chew its food.
The Chilean climbing mouse is a calm animal that eats plants. It spends most of its time in trees. It is so different from other mice that scientists placed it in its very own genus called Irenomys. This name was given in 1919. The word Irenomys comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning "peace". This name was chosen because World War I had just ended.
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How it Got its Name
In 1900, a scientist named Rodolfo Armando Philippi discovered two mice. He called them Mus tarsalis and Reithrodon longicaudatus. Today, we know both of these are the same animal: the Irenomys tarsalis.
Later, in 1919, another scientist named Oldfield Thomas created a new group, or genus, for this mouse. He named it Irenomys. He chose this name, which means "peace mouse," because it was four months after World War I had ended.
In 1943, Wilfred Hudson Osgood realized that Philippi's two mice were indeed the same species. He called them Irenomys tarsalis. Osgood thought there might be two slightly different types, or subspecies, based on their fur color. One lived on the mainland and the other on islands. However, he noted that more study was needed to be sure.
Scientists have studied the Irenomys for many years. At first, they thought it was related to a group of mice called Phyllotini. But more recent studies, especially using DNA from the mouse's cells, showed something different. These studies suggest that Irenomys is not closely related to the Phyllotini group. So, now it is placed in a larger group called Sigmodontinae, but its exact position is still a bit of a mystery.
What it Looks Like
The Irenomys is a big mouse with a long, furry tail. It has large eyes and very soft fur. Its upper body is reddish-brown with thin dark lines. Its belly is a light yellowish-brown. The exact color can change slightly depending on the mouse.
Its ears are medium-sized and dark, covered in thick fur. Its feet are large, wide, and almost white. The tail is dark brown and has a small tuft of hair at the end. Sometimes, the underside of the tail is a bit lighter.
Here are some average measurements for the Chilean climbing mouse:
- Total length: About 280 millimeters (11 inches)
- Tail length: About 165 millimeters (6.5 inches)
- Hindfoot length: About 30 millimeters (1.2 inches)
- Ear length: About 22 millimeters (0.9 inches)
- Weight: About 42 grams (1.5 ounces)
The mouse's skull looks similar to some other mouse species. Its upper incisor teeth have deep grooves. Its molar teeth are tall and have diamond-shaped plates. These plates are separated by deep valleys, but they connect in the middle by narrow ridges. This tooth structure is a bit like that of an African elephant!
Where it Lives and What it Does
The Irenomys tarsalis lives only in forests in Chile and western Argentina. In the northern part of its home range, it lives in two separate areas. Further south, it lives in both Chile and Argentina, and on many Chilean islands, like Chiloé. The southernmost places where it has been found are around 46°S latitude.
This mouse usually lives in wet, dense forests. It often likes areas with bamboo plants. However, it has also been seen near small streams and even in grassy areas with scattered trees. It does not live in high mountain areas. The Irenomys became very common when a type of bamboo called quila (Chusquea quila) flowered, which provided a lot of food.
The Chilean climbing mouse shares its home with other small animals. These include other rodents like the olive field mouse (Abrothrix olivaceus) and the long-haired field mouse (Abrothrix longipilis). It also lives near marsupials such as the Chilean shrew opossum (Rhyncholestes raphanurus).
Many animals hunt the Irenomys. Its remains have been found in owl pellets (regurgitated food) from owls like the great horned owl and the barn owl. Other animals that might hunt it include the Austral pygmy-owl, the South American gray fox, and the Kodkod wild cat.
Its Habits and Behavior
The Irenomys mostly lives in trees, which is why it's called a "climbing mouse." However, it can also be caught on the ground. When it climbs, it moves its front feet and back feet one after the other. It is a calm animal, but it doesn't easily go into traps set by researchers.
The breeding season for these mice is in the Southern Hemisphere spring. This lasts until late summer. A mother mouse usually has three to six babies in a litter. The Irenomys mainly eats seeds and fruits. But it also eats other parts of plants and even some fungi.
Conservation Status
The Irenomys is not currently in danger of disappearing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as "least concern." This means there are enough of them in the wild. It lives in several protected areas. However, losing its forest home could be a threat to some groups of these mice.
See also
In Spanish: Irenomys tarsalis para niños
