Jaliscan cotton rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jaliscan cotton rat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Genus: | Sigmodon |
| Species: |
S. mascotensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Sigmodon mascotensis J. A. Allen, 1897
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The Jaliscan cotton rat, also known as the Mexican cotton rat, is a small rodent. Its scientific name is Sigmodon mascotensis. This rat belongs to the Cricetidae family, which includes many types of mice and hamsters. You can only find this special rat in Mexico. It usually has brown fur on its back and white fur on its belly. These rats live on the ground and like open, grassy places.
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Where the Jaliscan Cotton Rat Lives
The Mexican cotton rat lives only in Mexico. You can find it along the western coast of the country. This area has a special type of forest called a tropical deciduous forest.
Preferred Homes for These Rats
These rats love open, grassy areas. They like places with lots of plants close to the ground. They prefer areas with very few or no trees. But if there are many rats, they might live in different kinds of places too. These rats often live peacefully with other similar rodents in their habitat.
Family Tree of the Mexican Cotton Rat
The Mexican cotton rat is part of the Rodentia order. This group includes all rodents. It belongs to the Cricetidae family. This family has many types of rats, mice, and hamsters.
How It's Different from Other Rats
The Mexican cotton rat used to be thought of as a type of Sigmodon hispidus. That rat is called the Hispid cotton rat. But scientists studied their genes and found they were different. So, the Mexican cotton rat became its own species. You can tell them apart by looking at their chromosomes and their skulls.
Understanding Hantavirus and Rodents
Hantavirus is a type of virus. It can spread to humans from rodents. This can happen if people touch rodent droppings or get bitten. It's important to be careful around wild rodents.
Hantavirus and the Mexican Cotton Rat
The Mexican cotton rat can carry hantavirus. Scientists have found many hantavirus antibodies in these rats. This means the rats have been exposed to the virus. The hantavirus carried by the Mexican cotton rat is a special type. Another rat, Oryzomys couesi (Coues's rice rat), also carries this same type of virus.
 | Janet Taylor Pickett |
 | Synthia Saint James |
 | Howardena Pindell |
 | Faith Ringgold |
