Ethiopian striped mouse
Ethiopian striped mouse | ||||||||||||
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||||
Muriculus | ||||||||||||
Thomas , 1903 | ||||||||||||
Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||||
Muriculus imberbis | ||||||||||||
( Rüppell , 1842) |
The Ethiopian striped mouse ( Muriculus imberbis ) is a rodent from the group of old world mice (Murinae). It is closely related to the real mice ( Mus ) and is sometimes classified in the same genus.
Ethiopian striped mice reach a head-trunk length of 7 to 9.5 centimeters, with a 4.5 to 6 centimeter long tail. The hair on the back is dark gray at the root and yellowish-brown at the tip, and a striking eel line extends along the back . The underside is yellowish or light brown.
These mice are only found in Ethiopia , where they live in the Ethiopian highlands between 1900 and 3400 meters above sea level. Their habitat are grassy areas. Little is known about their way of life, they are probably nocturnal and feed on seeds.
Only 13 animals of this species were caught, it is considered rare. According to the IUCN , however, it is not at risk.
literature
- Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 volumes. 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD et al. 1999, ISBN 0-8018-5789-9 .
- Michael D. Carleton, Guy G. Musser: Order Rodentia. In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, pp. 745-752, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
Web links
- Muriculus imberbis onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . Retrieved May 28, 2009.