Short-nosed scolomys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Short-nosed scolomys |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Scolomys
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| Species: |
melanops
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The short-nosed scolomys (Scolomys melanops) is a small mouse-like rodent that lives in the forests of South America. It is also known as the South American spiny mouse or Ecuadorian spiny mouse. For a long time, people thought it only lived in Ecuador. But now we know it also lives in parts of Peru.
What Does the Short-Nosed Scolomys Look Like?
This little mouse is quite small. It measures about 135 to 167 mm (5.3 to 6.6 in) from its nose to the tip of its tail. Its tail alone is about 55 to 77 mm (2.2 to 3.0 in) long. It has a short, wide head and a small body. Its tail has very little fur, almost bare.
Its fur on its back is short and thick. It's a mix of thin hairs and tougher, spiny hairs. These spiny hairs are darker at the tips. This gives the mouse a "grizzled" or speckled look. The fur on its belly is a uniform gray color.
This mouse looks very much like its close relative, the Ucayali spiny mouse. The main differences are in their skulls and teeth.
Where Does the Short-Nosed Scolomys Live?
You can find the short-nosed scolomys in Ecuador. It lives on the eastern side of the Andes mountains. It also lives near Iquitos in eastern Peru. These mice live at different heights, from about 150 to 1,200 m (500 to 3,900 ft) above sea level.
Their home is usually in forests. They live in both old, untouched forests and newer forests that have grown back. They can also be found in small patches of forest. Sometimes, they even live near farm fields next to forests.
Scientists don't know much about their daily lives. They don't seem to live in trees. We do know that female mice have been seen with babies in March and April. Their nests often use fibers from a special type of palm tree called Lepidocaryum tenue. On average, a mother mouse has about 2 or 3 babies at a time.
How Is the Short-Nosed Scolomys Doing?
The short-nosed scolomys is believed to live across a large area. This means there are likely many of these mice in total. Because of this, they are not currently facing big threats.
However, cutting down forests (deforestation) could affect them in some places. Luckily, they can live in different types of forests. They are also found in several protected areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) checks on animals around the world. They have listed the short-nosed scolomys as a "least concern" species. This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
