Berber striped grass mouse
Berber striped grass mouse | ||||||||||||
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Berber striped grass mouse ( Lemniscomys barbarus ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Lemniscomys barbarus | ||||||||||||
( Linnaeus , 1766) |
The Berber striped grass mouse ( Lemniscomys barbarus ), also known as the multi -striped grass mouse , is one of eleven species of striped grass mouse that is native to Africa north of the Sahara in Morocco , Tunisia and Algeria . The animals inhabit dry savannah and semi-desert landscapes . By L. barbarus seven subspecies exist.
description
Within their genus, the Berber striped grass mice are among the more graceful animals. They reach a height between eight and twelve centimeters. In addition, the tail is roughly the same length. The weight is between thirty and forty grams.
In the wild, the Berber striped grass mice rarely live to be older than six months on average. In captivity, however, they reach an age of around three years. The fur of the animals is striped lengthways. Berber striped grass mice are sociable animals that are active during the day and at dusk.
Male Berber striped grass mice become sexually mature at ten weeks of age , whereas the females only reach sexual maturity after five to six months. After a gestation period of twenty-one days, an average of five young are born per litter .
Web links
- Rodent-info.net multi-striped grass mouse
- Lemniscomys barbarus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.2. Posted by: van der Straeten, E., 2008. Accessed December 31, 2013.