Gray spiny mouse

Gray spiny mouse
Systematics
Subordination :	Mouse relatives (Myomorpha)
Superfamily :	Mice-like (Muroidea)
Family :	Long-tailed mice (Muridae)
Subfamily :	Deomyinae
Genre :	Spiny Mice ( Acomys )
Type :	Gray spiny mouse
Scientific name
	Acomys cineraceus
	Heuglin , 1877

Distribution area of the gray spiny mouse

The gray spiny mouse ( Acomys cineraceus ) is a rodent in the long-tailed mouse family found in northeastern Africa .

features

As with the other spiny mice, some coarse bristles or spines are mixed into the fur on the top. Despite the German name, only the back is dark gray, while reddish brown to cinnamon brown hair dominates on the flanks. The underside is covered with white fur. The gray spiny mouse has a small white spot under each eye and behind each ear. Furthermore, the tail is divided into a dark top and a white bottom. There are short stiff hairs on it.

The species reaches a head-trunk length of 89 to 116 mm, a tail length of 72 to 121 mm and a weight of 26 to 61 g. The length of the ears is 13 to 18 mm and the hind feet are 13 to 19 mm long.

distribution

The distribution area, which is divided into several populations, is mainly in Ethiopia and Sudan (including South Sudan ). In the south, the species reaches Kenya and Uganda, and an eastern population occurs in Somalia . The original habitat of the gray spiny mouse are semi-deserts and rocky regions. The species likes to be close to humans and can be found on farmland as well as in gardens. This rodent can usually be found at a height of 200 to 500 meters. In mountains or on plateaus it was registered up to 2000 meters above sea level.

Way of life

The gray spiny mouse is crepuscular or nocturnal and mostly stays on the ground. She can climb well in rocky terrain. The diet consists mainly of insects . In addition, the species eats other invertebrates , seeds or green parts of plants.

According to the few existing observations, the young are born at the beginning of the dry season or a little later. Females are believed to be 30 to 35 days pregnant and a litter will have up to five offspring. These are relatively well developed with open eyes at birth. They reach sexual maturity after about two months.

status

There are no significant threats to the species. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN .

supporting documents

↑ Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Acomys cineraceus ).
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Richard W. Thorington Jr., Chad E. Shennum: Acomys cineraceus . In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 222-223; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Acomys cineraceus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Cassola, F., 2016. Accessed April 3 2017th

[Wilson-1] Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Acomys cineraceus ).

[Kingdon_2013-2] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Richard W. Thorington Jr., Chad E. Shennum: Acomys cineraceus . In: Jonathan Kingdon, David Happold, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Butynski, Meredith Happold and Jan Kalina (eds.): Mammals of Africa Volume III. Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury, London 2013, pp. 222-223; ISBN 978-1-4081-2253-2 .

[IUCN-3] Acomys cineraceus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Cassola, F., 2016. Accessed April 3 2017th