List of nesomyids

Brown giant rat
Malagasy giant rat (Hypogeomys antimena)

Nesomyidae 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 4 cm (2 in) plus a 5 cm (2 in) tail, to the southern giant pouched rat, at 41 cm (16 in) plus a 45 cm (18 in) 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

IUCN Red List categories
Conservation status
 EX Extinct (0 species)
 EW Extinct in the wild (0 species)
 CR Critically endangered (2 species)
 EN Endangered (5 species)
 VU Vulnerable (5 species)
 NT Near threatened (0 species)
 LC Least concern (44 species)
Other categories
 DD Data deficient (8 species)
 NE Not evaluated (3 species)

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 (IUCN) 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

Sub-Saharan Africa
Nesomyidae distribution

Nesomyidae 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

Nesomyidae

Nesomyids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), 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

Genus Beamys – Thomas, 1909 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Greater hamster-rat B. major
Dollman, 1914
Southeastern Africa Size: 13–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Seeds and fruit
 NE 

Unknown Unknown
Lesser hamster-rat

Gray rat

B. hindei
Thomas, 1909
Southeastern Africa Size: 12–16 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 11–13 cm (4–5 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Seeds and fruit
 LC 

Unknown Population declining
Genus Cricetomys – Waterhouse, 1840 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Emin's pouched rat

Brown rat

C. emini
Wroughton, 1910
Central and western Africa Size: 30–35 cm (12–14 in) long, plus 32–43 cm (13–17 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Omnivorous, including fruit and nuts as well as vegetables, insects, crabs, and snails
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Gambian pouched rat

Gray rat

C. gambianus
Waterhouse, 1840
Central and western Africa Size: 28–39 cm (11–15 in) long, plus 25–40 cm (10–16 in) tail

Habitat: Forest and savanna

Diet: Omnivorous, including fruit and nuts as well as vegetables, insects, crabs, and snails
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Kivu giant pouched rat C. kivuensis
Lönnberg, 1917
Central and western Africa Size: About 32 cm (13 in) long, plus about 34 cm (13 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Omnivorous, including fruit and nuts as well as vegetables, insects, crabs, and snails
 NE 

Unknown Unknown
Southern giant pouched rat

Gray rat

C. ansorgei
Thomas, 1904
Central and southern Africa
Map of range
Size: 29–41 cm (11–16 in) long, plus 34–45 cm (13–18 in) tail

Habitat: Forest and savanna

Diet: Omnivorous, including fruit and nuts as well as vegetables, insects, crabs, and snails
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Genus Saccostomus – Peters, 1846 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Mearns's pouched mouse S. mearnsi
Heller, 1910
Eastern Africa Size: 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 3–8 cm (1–3 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and desert

Diet: Seeds, berries, grains, and nuts, as well as insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
South African pouched mouse

Gray mouse

S. campestris
Peters, 1846
Southern Africa Size: 9–18 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 2–6 cm (1–2 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert

Diet: Seeds, berries, grains, and nuts, as well as insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady

Subfamily Delanymyinae

Genus Delanymys – Hayman, 1962 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Delany's mouse D. brooksi
Hayman, 1962
Central Africa
Map of range
Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and inland wetlands

Diet: Seeds
 VU 

Unknown Population declining

Subfamily Dendromurinae

Genus Dendromus – Smith, 1829 – fourteen species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Banana climbing mouse D. messorius
(Thomas, 1903)
Central and western Africa Size: 5–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Brants's climbing mouse

Brown mouse

D. mesomelas
(Brants, 1827)
Southern Africa Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 7–13 cm (3–5 in) tail

Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Cameroon climbing mouse D. oreas
Osgood, 1936
Cameroon Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 8–11 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Chestnut climbing mouse

Brown mice

D. mystacalis
(Heuglin, 1863)
Eastern and southern Africa Size: 4–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 6–11 cm (2–4 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna and grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Gray climbing mouse

Brown and gray mouse

D. melanotis
(Smith, 1834)
Sub-Saharan Africa Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 5–10 cm (2–4 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, grassland, and desert

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Kivu climbing mouse D. nyasae
Thomas, 1916
Southern Africa Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 8–11 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 NE 

Unknown Unknown
Lachaise's climbing mouse D. lachaisei
Denys & Aniskine, 2012
Western Africa
Map of range
Size: 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Forest and savanna

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 VU 

Unknown Unknown
Lovat's climbing mouse

Drawing of brown striped mouse

D. lovati
(de Winton, 1900)
Ethiopia Size: 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail

Habitat: Grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Population declining
Monard's African climbing mouse D. leucostomus
Monard, 1933
Angola Size: 4–7 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna and grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 NE 

Unknown Unknown
Montane African climbing mouse D. insignis
(Thomas, 1903)
East-central Africa Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse D. kahuziensis
(Dieterlen, 1969)
Democratic Republic of the Congo Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 12–14 cm (5–6 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 CR 

Unknown Population declining
Nyika climbing mouse D. nyikae
Wroughton, 1909
Southern Africa Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 8–10 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Rupp's African climbing mouse D. ruppi
Dieterlen, 2009
South Sudan Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail

Habitat: Inland wetlands

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Vernay's climbing mouse D. vernayi
Hill & Carter, 1937
Angola Size: 6–8 cm (2–3 in) long, plus 8–9 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna

Diet: Seeds, berries, insects, eggs, small lizards, and small birds
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Dendroprionomys – Petter, 1966 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Velvet climbing mouse D. rousseloti
Petter, 1966
Republic of the Congo Size: About 8 cm (3 in) long, plus about 11 cm (4 in) tail

Habitat: Unknown

Diet: Insects
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Malacothrix – Candolle, 1838 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Gerbil mouse M. typica
(Smith, 1834)
Southern Africa Size: 6–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 2–5 cm (1–2 in) tail

Habitat: Desert, shrubland, and savanna

Diet: Green vegetation
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Genus Megadendromus – Dieterlen & Rupp, 1978 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Nikolaus's mouse M. nikolausi
Dieterlen & Rupp, 1978
Ethiopia Size: 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 9–11 cm (4 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 VU 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Prionomys – Dollman, 1910 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Dollman's tree mouse

Stamp with gray mouse

P. batesi
Dollman, 1910
West-central Africa Size: 7–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–12 cm (4–5 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Insects
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Steatomys – Peters, 1846 – eight species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Bocage's African fat mouse S. bocagei
(Thomas, 1892)
Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail

Habitat: Forest, savanna, and shrubland

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Dainty fat mouse S. cuppedius
Thomas & Hinton, 1920
Western Africa Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 4–5 cm (2 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Fat mouse

Brown mouse

S. pratensis
Peters, 1846
Central and southern Africa Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna and grassland

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Jackson's fat mouse S. jacksoni
Hayman, 1936
Ghana and Nigeria Size: About 12 cm (5 in) long, plus about 5 cm (2 in) tail

Habitat: Unknown

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Krebs's fat mouse

Brown mouse

S. krebsii
Peters, 1852
Southern Africa Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Northwestern fat mouse S. caurinus
Thomas, 1912
Western Africa Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 3–5 cm (1–2 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Pousargues African fat mouse S. opimus
(Pousargues, 1894)
Central Africa Size: 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail

Habitat: Forest and savanna

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Tiny fat mouse S. parvus
Rhoads, 1896
Eastern and southern Africa Size: 5–9 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 3–6 cm (1–2 in) tail

Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and grassland

Diet: Seeds, grass bulbs, and insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady

Subfamily Mystromyinae

Genus Mystromys – Wagner, 1841 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
White-tailed rat M. albicaudatus
(Smith, 1834)
Southern Africa Size: 11–20 cm (4–8 in) long, plus 4–9 cm (2–4 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and grassland

Diet: Seeds, vegetable matter, and insects
 VU 

7,000–14,000 Population declining

Subfamily Nesomyinae

Genus Brachytarsomys – Günther, 1875 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Hairy-tailed antsangy B. villosa
Petter, 1962
Northern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 23–24 cm (9 in) long, plus 26–27 cm (10–11 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Fruit
 VU 

Unknown Unknown
White-tailed antsangy

Drawing of brown rodent

B. albicauda
Günther, 1875
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 22–23 cm (9 in) long, plus 22–24 cm (9 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Fruit
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Brachyuromys – Forsyth Major, 1896 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Betsileo short-tailed rat B. betsileoensis
(Bartlett, 1880)
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 14–19 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Gregarious short-tailed rat B. ramirohitra
Forsyth Major, 1896
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 14–17 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 8–11 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Eliurus – A. Milne-Edwards, 1885 – twelve species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Ankarana Special Reserve tufted-tailed rat E. carletoni
Goodman, Raheriarisena, & Jansa, 2009
Northern Madagascar Size: 14–15 cm (6 in) long, plus 16–19 cm (6–7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Daniel's tufted-tailed rat E. danieli
Goodman & Carleton, 2007
Southern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 15–16 cm (6 in) long, plus 17–20 cm (7–8 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Dormouse tufted-tailed rat

Brown rat

E. myoxinus
A. Milne-Edwards, 1855
Northern, western, and southern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 12–17 cm (5–7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Ellerman's tufted-tailed rat E. ellermani
Carleton, 1994
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: About 15 cm (6 in) long, plus about 18 cm (7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Grandidier's tufted-tailed rat E. grandidieri
Goodman & Carleton, 1998
Northeastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 11–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 14–18 cm (6–7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Lesser tufted-tailed rat E. minor
Forsyth Major, 1896
Northern and eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 11–14 cm (4–6 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Major's tufted-tailed rat E. majori
Thomas, 1895
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 13–17 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Petter's tufted-tailed rat E. petteri
Carleton, 1994
Eastern Madagascar Size: About 13 cm (5 in) long, plus about 19 cm (7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 EN 

Unknown Unknown
Tanala tufted-tailed rat E. tanala
Forsyth Major, 1896
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 14–16 cm (6 in) long, plus 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Tsingy tufted-tailed rat E. antsingy
Goodman, Rakotondravony, & Carleton, 2001
Northern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 14–16 cm (6 in) long, plus 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Webb's tufted-tailed rat E. webbi
Ellerman, 1949
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 14–16 cm (6 in) long, plus 16–19 cm (6–7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
White-tipped tufted-tailed rat E. penicillatus
Thomas, 1908
East-central Madagascar
Map of range
Size: About 15 cm (6 in) long, plus about 17 cm (7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 EN 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Gymnuromys – Forsyth Major, 1896 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Voalavoanala G. roberti
Forsyth Major, 1896
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 15–18 cm (6–7 in) long, plus 14–20 cm (6–8 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Hypogeomys – Grandidier, 1869 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Malagasy giant rat

Gray rat

H. antimena
Grandidier, 1869
Western Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 30–34 cm (12–13 in) long, plus 21–24 cm (8–9 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Fruit
 CR 

5,000 Population declining
Genus Macrotarsomys – A. Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, 1898 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Bastard big-footed mouse

Gray mouse

M. bastardi
A. Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, 1898
Western Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 8–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 12–15 cm (5–6 in) tail

Habitat: Forest and shrubland

Diet: Berries, fruit, seeds, roots, and stems
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Greater big-footed mouse M. ingens
(Petter, 1959)
Northern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 18–24 cm (7–9 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Berries, fruit, seeds, roots, and stems
 EN 

Unknown Population declining
Petter's big-footed mouse M. petteri
Goodman & Soarimalala, 2005
Southern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: About 16 cm (6 in) long, plus about 24 cm (9 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Berries, fruit, seeds, roots, and stems
 DD 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Monticolomys – Goodman & Carleton, 1996 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Malagasy mountain mouse M. koopmani
Goodman & Carleton, 1996
Northern, central, and southern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 9–11 cm (4 in) long, plus 13–15 cm (5–6 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Genus Nesomys – Peters, 1870 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Island mouse

Brown mouse

N. rufus
Peters, 1870
Eastern Madagascar
Map of range
Size: 17–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 16–18 cm (6–7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Fruit and nuts
 LC 

Unknown Unknown
Western nesomys

Brown mouse

N. lambertoni
Grandidier, 1928
Western Madagascar Size: 18–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 18–20 cm (7–8 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Fruit and nuts
 EN 

Unknown Unknown
White-bellied nesomys

Brown mouse

N. audeberti
Jentink, 1879
Eastern Madagascar Size: 19–20 cm (7–8 in) long, plus 16–18 cm (6–7 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Fruit and nuts
 LC 

Unknown Population declining
Genus Voalavo – Goodman & Carleton, 1998 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Eastern voalavo V. antsahabensis
Goodman, Rakotondravony, Randriamanantsoa, & Rakotomalala-Razanahoera, 2005
Central Madagascar (in green)
Map of range
Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–13 cm (4–5 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 EN 

Unknown Unknown
Northern voalavo V. gymnocaudus
Goodman & Carleton, 1998
Northern Madagascar (in red)
Map of range
Size: 8–9 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 12–13 cm (5 in) tail

Habitat: Forest

Diet: Likely vegetation and insects
 LC 

Unknown Population steady

Subfamily Petromyscinae

Genus Petromyscus – Thomas, 1926 – four species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Barbour's rock mouse P. barbouri
Shortridge, 1938
South Africa Size: 7–8 cm (3 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas

Diet: Omnivorous
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Brukkaros pygmy rock mouse P. monticularis
(Thomas & Hinton, 1925)
Namibia and South Africa Size: 6–10 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas

Diet: Omnivorous
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Pygmy rock mouse P. collinus
(Hinton, 1925)
Southwestern Africa Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 7–13 cm (3–5 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas

Diet: Omnivorous
 LC 

Unknown Population steady
Shortridge's rock mouse P. shortridgei
Thomas, 1926
Angola and Namibia Size: 6–10 cm (2–4 in) long, plus 7–11 cm (3–4 in) tail

Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas

Diet: Omnivorous
 LC 

Unknown Population steady

References

  1. ↑ "Family Nesomyidae (mouse)". Paleobiology Database. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  2. ↑ Steppan, S. J.; Schenk, J. J. (2017). "Muroid rodent phylogenetics: 900-species tree reveals increasing diversification rates". PLOS One. 12 (8) e0183070. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0183070. PMC 5559066.
  3. ↑ Wilson; Reeder, pp. 930–954
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