Geographic Range
Platacanthomys lasiurus
, or Malabar Spiny Dormice, are found in southern India in the mountains of the Western
Ghats. These dormice are endemic to India.
Habitat
Commonly found in rocky, forested areas, Platacanthomys lasiurus make nests in knotholes of trees, cavities in trunks, and occasionally in spaces between rocks. Nests are made of moss and leaves. Good habitat consists of canopy cover and a large proportion of climbing plants, such as lianas.
(Grzimeks, 1975; Mudappa et al., 2001; Nowak, 1995)
- Habitat Regions
- tropical
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- forest
- rainforest
- mountains
Physical Description
Platacanthomys lasiurus have a reddish-brown upper body and a whitish under belly. The fur on the back is interspersed with broad, flat, stiff spines. The tail is only furred at the tip and resembles a brush; it is generally a darker color than the body, though it does lighten at the tip. The tail, ranging from 75 to 100 mm in length, is usually slightly shorter than the body length, which ranges from 130 to 212 mm. Platacanthomys lasiurus have small eyes and ears and a pointed muzzle. Average mass is 75 g.
Platacanthomys lasiurus
differ from true dormice (Family
Gliridae
) in that they have only 3 cheekteeth, as opposed to the 4 that true dormice have.
The cheekteeth are high crowned.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
Reproduction
Mating system in these animals is unknown.
Reproduction rates generally rise during the wet season. During this time, females often gain weight, which is indicative of their breeding status. The wet season is also the time when most juveniles are dispersing. This is supported by capture data. There is little available information on reproduction in these animals.
(Mudappa et al., 2001)
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- seasonal breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- fertilization
- viviparous
Details of parental care in these animals are unknown.
Lifespan/Longevity
A wild born female lived for 20 months in captivity. Lifespan in the wild is unknown.
(Nowak, 1995)
Behavior
Platacanthomys lasiurus is arboreal and probably primarily active at night. They use their long tail as a balancing organ. Little is known about social organization or behavior in these animals.
(Mudappa et al, 2001)
Communication and Perception
Food Habits
Platacanthomys lasiurus are herbivorous. In general, they eat fruits, grains, roots, seeds, and peppers. It is their ability to destroy large crops of pepper plants that has lead them to be called pepper rats.
(Grzimek, 1975; Nowak, 1995)
Predation
The spines on P. lasiurus 's back are very useful anti-predator devices. It has been reported that cats will not try to eat them. Their nocturnal habits also protect them from some predators. Little information on natural predators or anti-predator behaviors is available.
(Grzimek, 1975)
Ecosystem Roles
Malabar spiny dormice are important prey species in the ecosystems in which they live, they also may be involved in seed dispersal of the fruits they eat.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Malabar spiny dormice are important members of the community in which they live.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Platacanthomys lasiurus adversely affect humans because of the large amount of damage they can do to pepper crops. In some areas, they became so numerous that hunting was a necessity. They also get into "toddy-pots" and drink the fermented palm juice that is kept inside.
(Grzimek, 1975; Nowak, 1995)
- Negative Impacts
- crop pest
Conservation Status
Platacanthomys lasiurus populations are sensitive to habitat changes. To maintain healthy populations, large areas of undisturbed rainforest are needed.
(Mudappa et al., 2001)
Other Comments
There has not been much research done on Malabar spiny dormice.
(Mudappa et al., 2001)
Additional Links
Contributors
Barbara Lundrigan (author), Michigan State University, Sarah Foote (author), Michigan State University.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- rainforest
-
rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.
- mountains
-
This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- seasonal breeding
-
breeding is confined to a particular season
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- internal fertilization
-
fertilization takes place within the female's body
- viviparous
-
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- frugivore
-
an animal that mainly eats fruit
- granivore
-
an animal that mainly eats seeds
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
References
Grzimek, B. 1975. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia Vol 12 . New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co..
Mudappa, D., A. Kumar, R. Chellam. 2001. Abundance and habitat selection of the Malabar spiny dormouse in the rainforests of the southern Western Ghats, India. Current Science , 80: 424-427.
Nowak, R. 1995. "Walker's Mammals of the World Online" (On-line). Accessed 09 April, 2002 at http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walker/rodentia.muridae.platacanthomys.html .
Tate, G. 1947. Mammals of Eastern Asia . New York: McMillan Company.