Thomas’s giant deer mouse

Description

Megadontomys thomasi is a mammalian species first described by Clinton Hart Merriam 1898.Megadontomys thomasi is part of the genus Megadontomys and the family hamster-like rodents.The IUCN categorizes the species globally as highly threatened.No subspecies are listed in the Catalog of Life.The species occurs in a smaller mountain range in southwest Mexico.It lives in regions ranging from 3000 to 3500 meters above sea level.The habitat consists of cloud forests.This rodents becomes 30 to 35 cm long,including a 15.5 to 18.8 cm long tail.The weight is about 58 g.At Megadontomys thomasi,the long and thick fur on the upper side is dark brown,often with black shadows,while the underside is covered with cream-colored fur.On the short ears there are only sparsely distributed hair.The animal has a black nose and white hands and feet.Individuals are mostly night-active and they do not have a winter break.The feed consists mainly of seeds.Probably several females have herds between spring and autumn.Per litter,usually twins are born.The species shares its reefs with other rodents like deer rats,real forest rats and rice rats.