Toltec cotton rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toltec cotton rat |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sigmodon
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| Species: |
toltecus
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The Toltec cotton rat (Sigmodon toltecus) is a type of rodent. It is a small, furry mammal, similar to a mouse or a regular rat. These animals belong to a group of mammals called Cricetidae. This family includes many kinds of hamsters, voles, and New World rats and mice.
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About the Toltec Cotton Rat
The Toltec cotton rat is known for its soft, cotton-like fur. It is a species of rat that lives in specific areas. Scientists gave it the name Sigmodon toltecus. This name helps them identify it clearly.
Where Do They Live?
You can find the Toltec cotton rat in eastern Mexico. Their home stretches from the Rio Grande river all the way to the Yucatán Peninsula. They also live in the countries of Belize and northern Guatemala.
These rats like to live in moist grassland areas. This means they prefer places with lots of grass that are not too dry.
How Scientists Study Them
For a long time, scientists thought the Toltec cotton rat was just a type of another rat called the Hispid Cotton Rat (S. hispidus). They thought it was a "subspecies," which is like a smaller group within a species.
But recently, scientists used new methods to study their DNA. They looked at something called "mitochondrial DNA." This special DNA helped them learn more about these rats. They found out that what they thought was one big species was actually three different species!
So, the Toltec cotton rat is now its own separate species. The Hispid cotton rat lives mostly in the northern areas. The Toltec cotton rat lives south of the Rio Grande. Another species, S. hirsutus, lives even further south. Sometimes, the Toltec cotton rat and S. hirsutus live in the same areas, like in Chiapas, Mexico. When two species live in the same place, it is called sympatry.
Why Are They Important?
Rats from this group have been used by scientists in laboratories. They help researchers learn more about animals and how their bodies work. This research can sometimes help us understand human health too.
See also
In Spanish: Rata algodonera tolteca para niños
