| Kemp's grass mouse | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Sigmodontinae |
| Genus: | Deltamys Thomas, 1917 |
| Species: | D. kempi |
| Binomial name | |
| Deltamys kempi Thomas, 1917 | |
| Synonyms | |
Akodon kempi(Thomas, 1917) | |
Kemp's grass mouse (Deltamys kempi) is a species of South Americanrodent in the familyCricetidae. It is theonly species in thegenusDeltamys.[2] It was formerly considered a member of the genusAkodon, but is now considered sufficiently distinct to warrant its own genus.[3] It is named for Robin Kemp, who collected specimens of mice from the area for theBritish Museum.[4]
Kemp's grass mouse is noticeably larger than ahouse mouse, measuring about 18 cm (7.1 in) in total length, including the 8 cm (3.1 in) tail. The eyes and ears are small, and the limbs relatively short. The fur is dense and soft, and is a very dark brown, almost black, over most of the body, fading to brownish-grey on the underparts. The tail has only fine hairs, and is visibly scaled along its length.[4]
Kemp's grass mouse is found around the mouth of theRío de la Plata in theBuenos Aires andEntre Ríos provinces ofArgentina, throughout southern and easternUruguay, and near the coast ofRio Grande do Sul in extreme southernBrazil.[1] Within this region, it is found in treeless wetlands such asmarshlands and grassy floodplains, and less commonly on the margins of forested areas.[4]
Two subspecies are recognised:
Despite living in wetlands, Kemp's grass mouse is not an especially strong swimmer, and has feet more adapted for digging. They have been reported to nest above the ground, for example in fallen tree trunks, or under grasses or leaves. They are omnivorous, but with a higher proportion of animal matter, especially insects, in their diet than is the case for most other rodents. Common predators include thebarn owl.[4]
