Future mammals of New Zealand (II)

Continuation of the future New Zealand mammal series (first part here:

)

This new one is focusing on smaller mammal species.

1) Squirrat (Musciurus fasciatus)- arboreal rodent, evolved from the introduced black rat. Ecologically equivalent to a squirrel and fond of the pine nuts provided by the introduced pines and firs. It is the main prey of the marteasel (see next).

2) Marteasel (Mustelictis arboreus) - arboreal mustelid, evolved from the introduced long-tailed weasel. It fills a niche similar to the pine marten and so is an agile tree climber that hunts in the forest canopy.

3) Hairyhog (Galeryx pilosus) - fossorial spikeless hedgehog, similar in size and looks to a tenrec. It has powerful claws to dig and a long naked muzzle with a bifurcated tip, ideal to find and unearth soil-living invertebrates. It lives in pairs and is mostly nocturnal, resting during the day in a burrow or hidden in the bushes.

4) Racoon possum (Trichosurops ursinus)- Large, semiarboreal marsupial, evolved from the introduced brush tail possum. It is an omnivorous species, eating anything edible but preferably fruits, leaves, invertebrates and bird eggs. Very successful species found from sea level to high elevations, up to the tree line.

5) Stream rat (Fluviomys palmipes)- semiaquatic rodent, evolved from the introduced brown rat. It is a good diver, associated to fast flowing streams and clean waters. Feeds mainly on aquatic insect larvae that finds in the stream bed or among the rocks.

6) Ferrotter (Mustelutra riparia)- semiaquatic mustelid evolved from the introduced ferret, but filling an ecological niche similar to the river otter. As otters, its diet consist mainly on fish, freshwater crayfish, frogs and ducklings.