Ucucha thomasomys facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ucucha thomasomys
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Genus:	Thomasomys
Species:	T. ucucha
Binomial name
Thomasomys ucucha Voss, 2003
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The Thomasomys ucucha, also known as the ucucha thomasomys, is a type of rodent in the mouse family. It's a special kind of mouse found only in the high mountains of Ecuador. Specifically, it lives in the Cordillera Oriental mountain range. This mouse prefers cool, high-altitude forests and grasslands.

Even though it was first found in 1903, scientists officially described it as a new species in 2003. The ucucha thomasomys looks a lot like another mouse called T. hylophilus, which lives further north. Sadly, this little mouse is considered "vulnerable" because its home is being destroyed.

The ucucha thomasomys is a medium-sized mouse with dark fur and a long tail. One special thing about it is its large, wide front teeth (incisors) in its upper jaw. These teeth stick out a bit. From head to body, it measures about 94 to 119 millimeters (3.7 to 4.7 inches). It weighs between 24 and 46 grams (0.8 to 1.6 ounces). Its tail doesn't have much fur.

Discovering the Ucucha Mouse

The very first ucucha thomasomys mice were found way back in 1903. They were collected in a place called Tablón in Ecuador. For a long time, no more were found.

Then, in 1978 and 1980, a scientist named Robert S. Voss found many more of these mice. He collected them near a remote area called Papallacta. This area is hard to reach, so not much is known about the animals living there.

In 2003, Robert S. Voss officially named this animal a new species: Thomasomys ucucha. The name Thomasomys honors an English zoologist named Oldfield Thomas. He named many different kinds of mammals. The second part of the name, ucucha, is a local word from the Quechua people. It simply means "mouse."

Family Tree of the Ucucha Mouse

The ucucha thomasomys is part of a large group of mice called Thomasomys. This group has many different species living in the Andes mountains. Scientists have studied its mitochondrial DNA to learn more about its relatives.

The Thomasomys group belongs to a bigger family called Thomasomyini. This family includes over fifty species found in South America. All these mice are part of an even larger group called Sigmodontinae, which is a subfamily of the Cricetidae family. This family includes hundreds of small rodents.

What Does the Ucucha Mouse Look Like?

The ucucha thomasomys is a medium-sized mouse with a tail that is quite long compared to its body. Its fur is thick, soft, and dark brown on its back. This dark color slowly changes to gray on its belly.

Body Features

• Whiskers: The whiskers above its mouth are very long. They can reach past its ears if laid back.
• Ears: Its ears have a few short, dark hairs.
• Paws: The hands and feet are covered in dark hairs. However, the small tufts of hair at the base of its claws are longer and gray.
• Toes: The fifth toe on its foot is long. Its claw almost reaches the base of the fourth toe's claw.
• Tail: The tail is dark and doesn't have much fur. Some mice even have a white tip on their tail.

Size and Weight

Here are the average measurements for the ucucha thomasomys:

• Head and Body Length: About 110 millimeters (4.3 inches). It can range from 94 to 119 millimeters (3.7 to 4.7 inches).
• Tail Length: About 140 millimeters (5.5 inches). It can range from 122 to 151 millimeters (4.8 to 5.9 inches).
• Hindfoot Length: About 28 millimeters (1.1 inches). It can range from 26 to 30 millimeters (1.0 to 1.2 inches).
• Ear Length: About 18 millimeters (0.7 inches). It can range from 17 to 20 millimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches).
• Weight: About 36 grams (1.3 ounces). It can range from 24 to 46 grams (0.8 to 1.6 ounces).

Skull and Teeth

The front part of the ucucha mouse's skull is short, flat, and wide. The zygomatic arches, which are like cheekbones, are wide and rounded.

The openings in the front of the palate (the roof of the mouth) are called incisive foramina. These are short and don't reach the first molars. The palate itself is also short, wide, and smooth.

The ucucha mouse has large upper incisors (front teeth). They are orange in color and stick out a bit. These special front teeth help tell the ucucha mouse apart from most other Thomasomys species. Its molars (back teeth) are higher than those of other Thomasomys mice.

Where the Ucucha Mouse Lives

The Thomasomys ucucha is found only in the Cordillera Oriental mountain range in Ecuador. It lives in the provinces of Pichincha, Napo, and Carchi.

At Papallacta, where many were found, these mice live at very high altitudes. They are found between 3,380 to 3,720 meters (11,090 to 12,200 feet) above sea level. Their homes include páramo (high-mountain grasslands with shrubs and forest patches) and subalpine rainforests.

Many ucucha mice were found in runways, which are paths animals make through plants. Some were also found near small streams or on low trees. At the Guandera Biological Reserve, they were found at a slightly lower elevation of 3,340 meters (10,960 feet).

The ucucha mouse shares its home with many other types of rodents. Scientists have found it living alongside two types of grass mice, two water rats, two rice rats, and five other species of Thomasomys mice. This means the ucucha mouse often lives in the same areas as seven other Thomasomys species!

Conservation Status

Even though the Thomasomys ucucha can be common in certain spots, it lives in a very small area. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed it as "vulnerable".

The main threat to the ucucha mouse is the destruction of its habitat. People are clearing forests and grasslands for farming. However, some of the areas where it lives are near or inside protected areas, which helps keep them safe.

External sources

• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Bioweb data, maps and photographs