Long-nosed scolomys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-nosed scolomys |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Scolomys
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| Species: |
ucayalensis
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| Synonyms | |
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The Scolomys ucayalensis, also known as the long-nosed scolomys or Ucayali spiny mouse, is a small rodent that lives in South America. It is a nocturnal animal, meaning it is most active at night. This mouse belongs to a group of rodents called Scolomys.
You can find the Ucayali spiny mouse in several countries. These include Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It lives in different parts of the huge Amazon rainforest.
What Does the Ucayali Spiny Mouse Look Like?
The Ucayali spiny mouse is a small creature. Its body, from head to rear, measures about 80 to 90 mm (around 3 to 3.5 inches). Its tail is almost as long as its body.
This mouse has a small, wide head. It has a pointed snout and small, round ears. Its fur is special. It's a mix of fine hairs and thicker, flat spines.
The fur on its back can be reddish-brown to reddish-black. Sometimes it looks streaked with black. Its belly is grey. The tail of the mouse is almost bare, with very little fur. Its back feet are small but wide.
One way to tell this mouse apart from a similar species, Scolomys melanops (the Western spiny mouse), is by its feet. The Ucayali spiny mouse has a very small or missing pad on the sole of its hind foot, near the outer toe. The Western spiny mouse has a much more developed pad there.
Scientists also look at their chromosomes to tell them apart. The Ucayali spiny mouse has 50 chromosomes. The Western spiny mouse has 60 chromosomes.
Where Does the Ucayali Spiny Mouse Live?
The Ucayali spiny mouse lives on the eastern side of the Andes mountains in South America. Its home stretches from southern Colombia and Ecuador. It goes through western Brazil and into northern Peru.
This mouse lives in many different places. It can be found in lowland forests that don't flood. It also lives in areas where primary forests have been cut back. Sometimes, it even lives in cloud forests. In these forests, trees are often covered in moss and bromeliads.
The Ucayali spiny mouse can live at different heights. It is found from about 200 meters (650 feet) up to 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) above sea level.
