Black-footed colilargo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-footed colilargo |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligoryzomys
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| Species: |
nigripes
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| Synonyms | |
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The Oligoryzomys nigripes, also called the black-footed pygmy rice rat, is a small rodent. It belongs to a group of animals called Oligoryzomys. This group is part of the Cricetidae family, which includes many types of mice and rats. Scientists have sometimes grouped it with other similar rats.
You can find this rat in several countries in South America. It is quite big for a pygmy rat. It has long ears and fur that is dark yellow to dark brown on its back. Its belly is white, and sometimes it has a pink band on its chest. This rat spends a lot of its time living in trees.
Where It Lives
The black-footed pygmy rice rat lives in South America. You can find it in different parts of Brazil, like Pernambuco. It also lives in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado areas.
It is also found in Paraguay and Uruguay. In Argentina, you can see it in places like Chaco, Misiones, and Buenos Aires.
What It Looks Like
The fur of the Oligoryzomys nigripes can be brown, dark yellow, or grey. These rats have small bodies and long tails. The head and body together are about 9 cm (3.5 inches) long. Their tail is even longer, about 10.5 cm (4.1 inches).
An adult rat usually weighs between 26 and 33 grams. That's about the weight of a few paperclips! Their eyes are round and very dark black.
How It Behaves
The Oligoryzomys nigripes is a nocturnal animal. This means it is most active at night. They live entirely on land, and many of them live in trees. They are very good at climbing trees.
These rats are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They are known to eat insects, so they are insectivores. But they also eat fruits, which makes them frugivorous. They look for food like fruits, insects, and seeds.
Images for kids
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This is Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, a sister species of Oligoryzomys nigripes that resembles it.
See also
In Spanish: Rata pigmea de patas negras para niños
