Proechimys

Proechimys
Proechimys longicaudatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Echimyidae
Subfamily: Echimyinae
Tribe: Myocastorini
Genus: Proechimys
J. A. Allen, 1899
Type species
Echimys trinitatis
Species

Proechimys brevicauda
Proechimys canicollis
Proechimys chrysaeolus
Proechimys cuvieri
Proechimys decumanus
Proechimys echinothrix
Proechimys gardneri
Proechimys goeldii
Proechimys guairae
Proechimys guyannensis
Proechimys hoplomyoides
Proechimys kulinae
Proechimys longicaudatus
Proechimys magdalenae
Proechimys mincae
Proechimys oconnelli
Proechimys pattoni
Proechimys poliopus
Proechimys quadruplicatus
Proechimys roberti
Proechimys semispinosus
Proechimys simonsi
Proechimys steerei
Proechimys trinitatis
Proechimys urichi

Proechimys is a genus of South American spiny rats of the family Echimyidae.[1] All species of the genus are terrestrial. In the lowland Neotropical forests, Proechimys rodents are often the most abundant non-volant mammals.[2] They are recognizable by reason of their elongated heads and long rostra, large and erect ears, narrow and long hind feet, and tails always shorter than head-and-body lengths. The dorsal pelage comprises a mixture of expanded, varyingly stiffened spines (or aristiforms) — hence the vernacular name of spiny rats — and soft hairs (or setiforms).[2]

Proechimys is the most speciose genus of the rodent family Echimyidae, with 25 species recognized, followed by Phyllomys with 13 species, and Trinomys with 11 species.

  1. ^ Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Genus Proechimys". 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. 1584–1588. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  2. ^ a b Patton, James L.; Da Silva, Maria Nazareth F.; Malcolm, Jay R. (2000-01-01). "Mammals of the Rio Juruá and the evolutionary and ecological diversification of Amazonia" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 244: 1. doi:10.1206/0003-0090(2000)244<0001:MOTRJA>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0003-0090.