Broad-toothed mouse
The broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
| Broad-toothed rat | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Mastacomys Thomas, 1882 |
| Species: | M. fuscus |
| Binomial name | |
| Mastacomys fuscus Thomas, 1882 | |
Distribution and habitat
It is found only in South-eastern Australia. In Victoria live specimens have been caught in the Snowfields, Great Dividing Range (to Cooma in New South Wales),[2] Gippsland Highlands, Otway Ranges and Wilsons Promontory. Specimens located in scats have been found in the Otway plains and East Gippsland.[3] The species is also recorded in buttongrass sedgeland up to 1000 metres in western Tasmania.[4]
Habitat preferences are areas of herbfields, grasslands and forests with minimal shrubs but a dense covering of sedge, grass, herbs and moss, where precipitation does not fall below 1400 mm per year in alpine areas and others 1000 mm at lower altitudes (DCNR 1995 pp. 208–210).
References
- Menkhorst, P.; Denny, M.; Ellis, M.; Driessen, M.; Broome, L. & Dickman, C. (2008). "Mastacomys fuscus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Menkhorst, P.; Knight, F. (2001). A field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Oxford Press. ISBN 0-19-550870-X.
- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources edited by Menkhorst, P,W 1995 "Mammals of Victoria" Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, ISBN 0-19-553733-5
- Menkhorst and Knight, 2001 p. 198
- Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- BROAD-TOOTHED RAT, MASTACOMYS FUSCUS (RODENTIA, MURIDAE), FOUND IN ALPINE HEATHLAND IN TASMANIA by MICHAEL M. DRIESSEN
