White-faced spiny tree-rat

The white-faced spiny tree-rat (Echimys chrysurus) is a spiny rat species from South America. It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname.

White-faced spiny tree-rat
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Echimyidae
Tribe: Echimyini
Genus: Echimys
Species:
E. chrysurus
Binomial name
Echimys chrysurus
Synonyms

Myoxus chrysurus Zimmermann, 1780
Echimys cristatus Desmarest, 1817
Echimys paleaceus (Lichtenstein, 1820)

The etymology of the species name derives from the two ancient greek words χρυσός (khrusós), gold, and οὐρά (ourá), animal tail.

The main diagnostic character state of this Echimys species is the presence of a dorsal white median stripe on the head. As compared to Echimys vieirai and Echimys saturnus, E. chrysurus also possesses a brighter dorsum.

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