Bolam's mouse
Bolam's mouse | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Genus: | Pseudomys |
Species: | P. bolami
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Binomial name | |
Pseudomys bolami (Troughton, 1932)
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Bolam's mouse (Pseudomys bolami) is a species of
Description
Bolam's mouse is the size of a house mouse although slimmer in appearance with larger eyes, feet and ears with a longer tail. It is also quieter than a house mouse when handled and lacks a musty odour.[4] Other distinguishing features include the absence of notched upper incisors which are characteristic of the house mouse.[4] The weight of males and females is between 9 and 16 grams. The body length is 50–80 millimetres (2.0–3.1 in) with a tail length of 71–103 mm (2.8–4.1 in). The fur is a dull grey-brown that blends from white at the base to much darker at the tips. It is very similar in appearance to the sandy inland mouse, Pseudomys hermannsburgensis, but with a longer hindfoot (18.4–20.1 mm (0.72–0.79 in)), 4–6 hairs per tail scale and longer ears (15.2–18.6 mm (0.60–0.73 in)).[5]
Taxonomy
Bolam's mouse was first described by Troughton in 1932 as a subspecies of the sandy inland mouse, as Pseudomys hermannsburgensis bolami.[2] It was reclassified as a separate species by Kitchener et al. in 1984 based on nucleic acid electrophoretic and morphometric characters.[2]
Distribution
It has a wide distribution that ranges from south west
Diet
Bolam's mouse is an omnivorous rodent that feeds on a mixture of seed, plant material, invertebrates and fungus. Due to the high variability of food resources available to P. bolami its diet is seasonally varied. Generally seeds particularly those of Maireana astrotricha[4] occupy the majority of the diet when conditions are suitable for seed production. Plant material including leaves, floral material, stems and roots generally make up more than 30% of the diet. Invertebrates make up more than 10% of the diet and fungus makes up less than 1%.[3]
Life Cycle
Bolam's mouse has been recorded breeding in all seasons but typically breeds in spring and early summer to coincide with available food resources.[4] It has also been observed to have an opportunistic breeding pattern that peaks with an elevenfold increase in numbers 12 months after a significant rainfall event to exploit additional food resources.[2] Individuals are sexually mature when a body mass of 9 grams (0.32 oz) is reached.[2] Females can have 4–6 offspring.[4] The estimated life span of Bolam's mouse is as low as two years.[4]
Habitat
It is found in a range of vegetation communities within the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. These communities range from Mallee-spinifex, Mallee-Shrubland, Belah woodland, mixed open shrubland/woodland,[4] chenopod shrubland plains and Acacia/Eucalyptus woodlands.[5]
They are found to inhabit areas that have loamy, clay, gravelly, sandy or calcareous soils where they are able to burrow.[4] They also occupy vacant goanna, bettong and rabbit burrows and underneath fallen timber.[6]
Threats
There has been a contraction in the geographical range of Bolam's mouse in recent times, with regional extinctions in areas where there is significant land clearing for agriculture such as the
Conservation status
In
References
- .
- ^ a b c d e Moseby, K. E., & Read, J. L. (1998). Population dynamics and movement patterns of Bolam's mouse, Pseudomys bolami, at Roxby Downs, South Australia. Australian Mammalogy, 20, 353-368.
- ^ a b Murray, B. R., Dickman, C. R., Watts, C. H. S., & Morton, S. R. (1999). The dietary ecology of Australian rodents. Wildlife Research, 26(6), 857-858
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Bolam's Mouse (Pseudomys bolami) Recovery Plan. Hurstville, NSW: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 2002.
- ^ a b Van Dyck, S., Gynther, I. & Baker, A. (2013). Mammals of Australia. New Holland Publishing Australia Pty Limited.
- ^ Read, J. L., Carter, J., Moseby, K. M., & Greenville, A. (2008). Ecological roles of rabbit, bettong and bilby warrens in arid Australia. Journal of Arid Environments, 72(11), 2124-2130
- ^ Read, J., & Bowen, Z. (2001). Population dynamics, diet and aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South Australia. Wildlife Research, 28(2), 195-203
- ^ Mazzer, T., Ellis, M., Smith, J., Ayers, D., Cooper, M., Wallace, G. and Langdon, A. (1998). The Fauna of Western New South Wales: the Southern Mallee Region. (NSWNPWS, Hurstville).
- ^ Moseby, K.E., Morris, K., Read, J., Kemper, C., van Weenen, J., Ellis, M. & Burbidge, A. 2008. Pseudomys bolami. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 17 October 2014
External links
- OCLC 62265494.