List of nesomyids


is a family of mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the Myomorpha suborder. Members of this family are called nesomyids, and include Malagasy rodents, climbing mice, African rock mice, pouched rats, and tufted-tailed rats. They are found in sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in forests, savannas, shrublands, grasslands, and deserts, though some species can be found in rocky areas. They range in size from Monard's African climbing mouse, at plus a tail, to the southern giant pouched rat, at plus a tail. Nesomyids are generally omnivores, and eat seeds, fruit, nuts, roots, stems, and insects. Few nesomyids have population estimates, but five species—the white-tipped tufted-tailed rat, greater big-footed mouse, western nesomys, eastern voalavo, and Petter's tufted-tailed rat—are categorized as endangered, while the Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse and Malagasy giant rat are categorized as critically endangered.
The 67 extant species of Nesomyidae are divided into 21 genera, divided into 6 subfamilies. Cricetomyinae contains 8 species of hamster-rats and pouched rats in 3 genera, Delanymyinae contains a single species, Dendromurinae contains 26 species of climbing mice and fat mice in 6 genera, Mystromyinae contains a single species, Nesomyinae contains 27 species of short-tailed rats, tufted-tailed rats, and big-footed mice in 9 genera, and Petromyscinae contains 4 species of rock mice in a single genus. Several extinct prehistoric nesomyid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed.

Conventions

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the nesomyid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

is a family consisting of 67 extant species in 21 genera. These genera are divided into six subfamilies: Cricetomyinae, containing 8 species of in 3 genera; Delanymyinae, containing a single species; Dendromurinae, containing 26 species in 6 genera; Mystromyinae, containing a single species; Nesomyinae, containing 27 species in 9 genera; and Petromyscinae, containing 4 species in a single genus. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
Family Nesomyidae
  • Subfamily Cricetomyinae
  • * Genus Beamys : two species
  • * Genus Cricetomys : four species
  • * Genus Saccostomus : one species
  • Subfamily Delanymyinae
  • * Genus Delanymys : one species
  • Subfamily Dendromurinae
  • * Genus Dendromus : fourteen species
  • * Genus Dendroprionomys : one species
  • * Genus Malacothrix : one species
  • * Genus Megadendromus : one species
  • * Genus Prionomys : one species
  • * Genus Steatomys : eight species
  • Subfamily Mystromyinae
  • * Genus Mystromys : one species
  • Subfamily Nesomyinae
  • * Genus Brachytarsomys : two species
  • * Genus Brachyuromys : two species
  • * Genus Eliurus : twelve species
  • * Genus Gymnuromys : one species
  • * Genus Hypogeomys : one species
  • * Genus Macrotarsomys : three species
  • * Genus Monticolomys : one species
  • * Genus Nesomys : three species
  • * Genus Voalavo : two species
  • Subfamily Petromyscinae
  • * Genus Petromyscus : four species

    Nesomyids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World, with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.

Subfamily Cricetomyinae

Subfamily Delanymyinae

Subfamily Dendromurinae

Subfamily Mystromyinae

Subfamily Nesomyinae

Subfamily Petromyscinae