Rhynchomys
6 species
The shrewlike rats, genus Rhynchomys, also known as the tweezer-beaked rats are a group of unusual Old World rats found only on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They look a great deal like shrews and are an example of convergent evolution. Shrewlike rats evolved to be vermivores (worm-eaters) and insectivores feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates associated with leaf litter.
Shrewlike rats are found at elevations of 1,100 to 2,460 meters. They are restricted to moist, mossy highland regions with ample rainfall and large populations of earthworms. Populations appear to be very isolated, restricted to "sky islands" of Luzon. Specimens have been collected from Mt. Bali-it and Mt. Data of the Central Cordillera (R. soricoides), Mt. Tapulao of the Zambales Mountains (R. tapulao), Mount Banahao (R. banahao), Mount Isarog (R. isarogensis), Mt. Labo of the Bicol Peninsula (R. labo) and Mt. Mingan of the Sierra Madre (R. mingan).
The shrewlike rats, genus Rhynchomys, also known as the tweezer-beaked rats are a group of unusual Old World rats found only on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. They look a great deal like shrews and are an example of convergent evolution. Shrewlike rats evolved to be vermivores (worm-eaters) and insectivores feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates associated with leaf litter.
Shrewlike rats are found at elevations of 1,100 to 2,460 meters. They are restricted to moist, mossy highland regions with ample rainfall and large populations of earthworms. Populations appear to be very isolated, restricted to "sky islands" of Luzon. Specimens have been collected from Mt. Bali-it and Mt. Data of the Central Cordillera (R. soricoides), Mt. Tapulao of the Zambales Mountains (R. tapulao), Mount Banahao (R. banahao), Mount Isarog (R. isarogensis), Mt. Labo of the Bicol Peninsula (R. labo) and Mt. Mingan of the Sierra Madre (R. mingan).
