Mount Pulag tree-mouse

The Mount Pulag tree-mouse (Musseromys beneficus)[3] is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.[1] It is found on Mount Pulag in Luzon, Philippines.[1][2]

Mount Pulag tree-mouse
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Musseromys
Species:
M. beneficus
Binomial name
Musseromys beneficus
Heaney, Balete, Rickart, Veluz & Jansa, 2014[2]

Description

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As for all members of the genus Musseromys, they are small murids weighing between 15 and 22 g (0.53 and 0.78 oz).[2] They have tails of 82–101 mm (3.2–4.0 in) which are usually longer than the rest of their bodies 74–84 mm (2.9–3.3 in).[2]

Three adult specimens were collected, now in the collections of the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH):

  • an adult female (♀) (FMNH 198713),
  • an adult female (♀) (FMNH 198714, holotype),
  • an adult male (♂) (FMNH 198857).[2]

Their measurements are as follows :

Measurements of the holotype (adult ♀) and 2 other specimens (1 adult ♀ & 1 ♂) of Musseromys beneficus[2]
Attribute FMNH 198713 (♀) FMNH 198714 (♀, holotype) FMNH 198857 (♂)
Head-body length (mm) 75 81 84
Tail length (mm) 82 82 88
Weight (g) 18 22 22

Conservation

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Data on this species endemic to the Philippines is, as of now, known from only one location.[2] This particularity, alongside lack of knowledge on habitats and potential threats of the species, brought the IUCN to assess the Mount Pulag tree-mouse as "Data Deficient".[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Dando, T.; Kennerly, R. (2019). "Musseromys beneficus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T112041990A112041994. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T112041990A112041994.en.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Heaney, Lawrence R.; Balete, Danilo S.; Rickart, Eric A.; Veluz, Maria Josefa; Jansa, Sharon A. (16 May 2014). "Three New Species of Musseromys (Muridae, Rodentia), the Endemic Philippine Tree Mouse from Luzon Island". American Museum Novitates (3802): 1–27. doi:10.1206/3802.1. S2CID 53542249. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. ^ "Musseromys beneficus (id=1003435)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 8 February 2023.