Two rows of long white hairs begin on the sides of the body and gradually converge into a single raised crest along the underside of the tail. In addition to this tail arrangement, Crossomys has waterproof fur, greatly reduced ears, small eyes, a smoothly rounded head, and very large, webbed hind feet. These adaptations make Crossomys even more specialized for aquatic life than Hydromys. The hands of Crossomys are relatively small, the wrists are slender, and the claws are small, delicate, and strongly curved. The incisor teeth are narrow and beveled on the sides.
Females have four mammae.
The elevational range of Crossomys is about 600-3,000 meters, and this animal apparently occurs only along waterways. The typical habitat is a small, swift mountain stream, but when frogs are spawning, Crossomys may move away from the rivers to hunt for tadpoles. The Johns Hopkins University Press. All rights reserved. This document may be used, with this notice included, for noncommercial purposes within a purchasing institution .