Malagasy mountain mouse
Malagasy mountain mouse.
The Malagasy mountain mouse (Monticolomys koopmani) is a small mouse-like rodent of the family Nesomyidae. Found in the highlands of eastern Madagascar (map pictured), it is dark brown on the upperparts and dark gray below. It has small, rounded, densely haired ears and broad feet with well-developed pads. The long tail lacks a tuft at the tip. The skull is delicate and lacks crests and ridges on its roof. First collected in 1929, the Malagasy mountain mouse was not formally described until 1996, but it is now known to have a broad distribution. Active during the night in trees and on the ground, the species occurs in both montane forest and human-disturbed grasslands, and feeds on fruits and seeds. Although habitat destruction may pose a threat, it is classified as a species of least concern. Monticolomys means "mountain-dwelling mouse", and koopmani honors Karl Koopman for his contributions to mammalian systematics.
The Malagasy mountain mouse (Monticolomys koopmani) is a small mouse-like rodent of the family Nesomyidae. Found in the highlands of eastern Madagascar (map pictured), it is dark brown on the upperparts and dark gray below. It has small, rounded, densely haired ears and broad feet with well-developed pads. The long tail lacks a tuft at the tip. The skull is delicate and lacks crests and ridges on its roof. First collected in 1929, the Malagasy mountain mouse was not formally described until 1996, but it is now known to have a broad distribution. Active during the night in trees and on the ground, the species occurs in both montane forest and human-disturbed grasslands, and feeds on fruits and seeds. Although habitat destruction may pose a threat, it is classified as a species of least concern. Monticolomys means "mountain-dwelling mouse", and koopmani honors Karl Koopman for his contributions to mammalian systematics.
