Oryzomys palustris
Common Marsh Rice Rat
(Oryzomys palustris) | |
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Range | |
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Taxonomic classification | |
Order: | Rodentia |
Suborder: | Supramyomorpha |
Infraorder: | Myomorphi |
Superfamily: | Muroidea |
Family: | Cricetidae |
Subfamily: | Sigmodontinae |
Tribe: | Oryzomyini |
Genus: | Oryzomys |
Binomial details | |
Oryzomys palustris (Harlan, 1837) |
Description
From Best & Hunt (2020): "The marsh oryzomys is a medium-sized rat. The coarse, moderately long pelage varies from grayish-brown to brown with scattered black and brown hairs on the dorsum. Pelage on the back is usually darker medially from neck to rump. Underparts and feet are white to grayish or tan. Front feet have four toes and hind feet have five toes. The tail is slender, nearly hairless, indistinctly bicolored, and about the same length as head and body combined. Eyes are dark and large, and ears are prominent. Small internal cheek pouches are present."
External measurements
Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.
Part of range | Reference | Total length | Tail length | Hindfoot length | Ear length | Mass |
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Alabama | Best & Dusi (2014) | 232 (200–253) (n=25) | 114 (97–127) (n=25) | 31 (27–32) (n=25) | 15 (13–17) (n=25) | 58.2 (56.2–59.0) (n=2) |
Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland | Webster et al. (1985) | 180–290 | 90–140 | 29–159 | ||
Virginia | Linzey (1998) | 225–300 | 100–175 | 40–85 |
Skull
References
Best TL, Dusi JL. 2014. Mammals of Alabama (Vol. 4). Tuscaloosa (AL, USA): University Alabama Press.
Best TL, Hunt JL. 2020. Mammals of the southeastern United States. Tuscaloosa (AL, USA): University Alabama Press.
Hanson JD, Indorf JL, Swier VJ, Bradley RD. 2010. Molecular divergence within the Oryzomys palustris complex: evidence for multiple species. Journal of Mammalogy 91(2):336-347.
Linzey DW. 1998. The mammals of Virginia. McDonald & Woodward Publishing.
Webster WD, Parnell JF, Biggs WC. 1985. Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. Chapel Hill (NC, USA): University of North Carolina Press.