棘鼠科（Echimyidae）來自希臘文 ἐχῖνος（ekhînos,「刺蝟」）和希臘文 μῦς（mûs,「老鼠、大鼠」）,意思是「多刺的老鼠」,指的是這些動物的外型很像老鼠,但卻長有尖尖的毛髮.

Echimyidae, from Greek ἐχῖνος (ekhînos, “hedgehog”) and Greek μῦς (mûs, “mouse, rat”), means “spiny rat”, in reference to the fact that these animals resemble rats in appearance, but have spiky hair.

種的俗名 Common names of members

棘鼠,盔棘鼠,竹鼠,海狸鼠,扁鼠, 硬毛鼠.

Spiny rats, armored-rats, bamboo-rat, nutrias, guiaras, hutias.

分佈 Distribution 

南美洲、中美洲和大安的利斯群島.

South America, Central America and Greater Antilles.

體型 Size

牠們的體型從長 15-21 公分、重 100-250 克到 40-60 公分、重 4-9 公斤不等.

Their size varies from 15–21 cm in length and 100–250 g in weight to 40–60 cm and 4–9 kg.

形態描述 Morphology

在一般的形態上,大多數的物種都很像老鼠,不同物種的從老鼠到負鼠和海狸的大小都有.多數品種都有尖硬的毛髮或刺.

In general form, most species resemble rats, ranging, between species, from the size of a mouse to the proportions of possums and beavers. Most species have stiff, pointed hairs, or spines.

生態和棲息地 Habitat & Ecology

成員的生活習性從完全樹棲到陸棲到化石到半水棲,遍佈雨林、稀樹草原、河流、湖泊、沼澤、紅樹林和乾燥的灌木地.

Members range from fully arboreal to terrestrial to fossorial to semiaquatic habits across rainforests, savannas, rivers, lakes, swamps, mangroves and arid shrublands.

食性 Diet

這些物種的食性有多種,從草食性與雜食性物種到只吃特定種類真菌、水生昆蟲或蚯蚓的專門物種.大多數的品種都吃小型無脊椎動物和植物性物質；牠們經常儲存種子和其他植物性物質,以供冬天食用.

These species have a wide variety of eating patterns, from herbivorous and omnivorous species to specialists who only eat specific types of fungi, aquatic insects, or earthworms. The majority of species eat small invertebrates and plant matter; they frequently store seeds and other plant materials for eating in the winter. 

繁殖 Reproduction 

大多數物種可能都有不同的多配偶制（雌性或雄性與兩個或以上的異性交配）.

Most species probably play different polygamous systems (female or a male mates with two or more members of the opposite sex).

已知的物種

Total species known

93

博物館收藏的物種

Species in the collection

2

在香港已知的物種

Species in Hong Kong

0

Reference

Macdonald, D. W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of mammals. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780199206087.001.0001.

Savage, R. J. G., Long, M. R. (1986). Mammal Evolution: an illustrated guide. Facts on File.

Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Marisol, A. M. (1999). Population Ecology of Proechimys guairae (Rodentia: Echimyidae). Journal of Mammalogy, 80(2), 487–498. https://doi.org/10.2307/1383295.