Ecology and Behaviour
| Number (CMNH) |
Number (PNM) |
Date | Site | Altitude | Sex and other data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 634 | 3475 | – | 3 | app. 1,900 m (6,234 ft) | Male |
| 635 | 3476 | – | 3 | app. 1,900 m (6,234 ft) | Female |
| 636 | – | – | 3 | app. 1,900 m (6,234 ft) | Female |
| 637 | 3477 | – | 3 | app. 1,900 m (6,234 ft) | Male |
| 639 | – | – | 3 | app. 1,900 m (6,234 ft) | Male |
| 640 | – | – | 3 | app. 1,900 m (6,234 ft) | Male |
| 641 | 3478 | – | 3 | app. 1,900 m (6,234 ft) | Male |
| 642 | – | May 28 | 2 | app. 1,255 m (4,117 ft) | Young male |
| 643 | 3439 | June 1 | 2 | app. 1,255 m (4,117 ft) | Adult female |
| 644 | – | June 4 | 1 | app. 1,580 m (5,184 ft) | Young male |
| 645 | – | June 7 | 1 | app. 1,580 m (5,184 ft) | Young male |
| 646 | – | June 7 | 1 | app. 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | Adult female |
| 647 | – | June 9 | 1 | app. 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | Young adult male |
| 648 | 3480 | June 10 | 1 | app. 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | Adult male |
| 649 | 3481 | June 11 | 1 | app. 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | Old male |
| 650 | 3482 | June 12 | 1 | app. 1,580 m (5,184 ft) | Adult male (holotype) |
The large Mindoro forest mouse has been found at three different sites in the municipality of San Teodoro, on the North flank of Mount Halcon. These sites are located at altitudes between 1,255 and 1,900 m (4,117 and 6,234 ft). There is a good possibility, however, that the large Mindoro forest mouse also occurs on other mountains on Mindoro, especially on the northern part of the island, which is home to large areas of undamaged cloud forest.
The lowest forests in which the large Mindoro forest mouse has been found, at some 1,250 m (4,101 ft) above sea level, are mostly between 14 and 16 m (46 and 52 ft) in height, with the very tallest reaching 20 m (66 ft). The dominant species of tree are from the genera Leptospermum flavescens, Tristaniopsis and Lithocarpus, from the families Myrtaceae and Fagaceae. These very humid forests have a dense understory vegetation, which consists, amongst other plants, of mosses, tree ferns and species of Pandanus. At higher altitudes (between 1,600 and 1,950 m (5,249 and 6,398 ft)), the forest is dominated by bamboo, while the only tree species present is Agathis philippinensis. Here, vegetation reaches a height between 7 and 10 m (23 and 33 ft). There are many smaller plants present, such as ferns, orchids and species of Pandanus. The forest floor is covered with a layer of leaves with a thickness between 6 and 8 cm (2.4 and 3.1 in).
Nothing is known with any certainty about the behaviour of the large Mindoro forest mouse. The long snout, small upper incisors and long lower incisors suggest that the animal feeds on soft invertebrates, but this is not certain. Furthermore, the long tail and elongated hind feet with well-developed claws point towards a climbing lifestyle.
Very little is also known about the animal's procreation habits. A female specimen was found to carry three embryos. Another female had a swollen uterus, and testicles were visible in several of the male specimens.
Read more about this topic: Large Mindoro Forest Mouse
Famous quotes containing the words ecology and/or behaviour:
“... the fundamental principles of ecology govern our lives wherever we live, and ... we must wake up to this fact or be lost.”
—Karin Sheldon (b. c. 1945)
“I cannot be much pleased without an appearance of truth; at least of possibility—I wish the history to be natural though the sentiments are refined; and the characters to be probable, though their behaviour is excelling.”
—Frances Burney (1752–1840)