Spiny Tree Rat
Mesomys hispidus
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyEchimyidae (Spiny Rats and Hutias)
- GenusMesomys
- SpeciesMesomys hispidus (Spiny Tree Rat)
About the Spiny Tree Rat
Ferreira's spiny tree-rat (Mesomys hispidus) is a spiny rat species found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. The etymology of the species name corresponds to the Latin word hispidus meaning bristly.
The description of Mesomys hispidus was conducted on a specimen collected by the naturalist Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira during his travels in Amazonian Brazil, hence the species name. Initially deposited in the Museu Real d'Ajuda of Portugal, it has been brought to Paris in 1808 after the plundering of Lisbon by the armies of Napoleon. Then, in 1817, Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest described the species based on this specimen housed in the National Museum of Natural History (France) of Paris.
Using ancient DNA technology, a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene has been sequenced from a small skin fragment of this holotype. DNA sequence comparisons then suggested that the specimen was originally obtained in eastern Amazonia north of the Amazon River, most likely in the Brazilian state of Amapá. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Spiny Tree Rat in Tambopata National Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Tambopata National Reserve
Steere's Spiny Rat
Proechimys steerei
Simon's Spiny Rat
Proechimys simonsi
Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Brown Agouti
Dasyprocta variegata
Southern Amazon Red Squirrel
Sciurus spadiceus
Spotted Paca
Cuniculus paca
Bicolor-spined Porcupine
Coendou bicolor
Long-tailed Porcupine
Coendou longicaudatus
Amazon Dwarf Squirrel
Microsciurus flaviventer
Bolivian Squirrel
Sciurus ignitus
Streaked Dwarf Porcupine
Coendou ichillus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 2 | Madidi National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 3 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 4 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 6 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Spiny Tree Rat in Tambopata National Reserve?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Spiny Tree Rat sighting in Tambopata National Reserve, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Spiny Tree Rat in Tambopata National Reserve?
January has the highest sighting rate for Spiny Tree Rat in Tambopata National Reserve in our monthly data.