Big-eared hopping mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big-eared hopping mouse |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Notomys
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| Species: |
macrotis
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The big-eared hopping mouse (Notomys macrotis) was a type of mouse that is now extinct. It used to live in the Moore River area of south-western Australia. This small animal was about the size of a rat. It looked a bit like a tiny kangaroo.
It had big eyes and ears, and its tail had a brush-like tip. When moving slowly, it walked on all four legs. But when it wanted to go fast, it would hop on its large, padded back feet. These mice usually lived in sand dunes. They built their nests from leaves and other natural materials. The last time a big-eared hopping mouse was seen was in July 1843. This was near the Moore River in Western Australia, close to where New Norcia is today.
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What Was the Big-Eared Hopping Mouse Like?
The big-eared hopping mouse was one of several hopping mouse species that have become extinct. We don't have many old bones or fossils of this mouse. This suggests it only lived in Western Australia.
Out of six animal groups that only lived in Western Australia, five are now endangered. The big-eared hopping mouse is the only one that is completely extinct. In Western Australia, it is officially listed as "presumed to be extinct." The Australian government simply calls it "extinct."
We only know about this mouse from two damaged specimens. One specimen's exact location is unknown. The other was found near the Moore River in Western Australia. The last known record of the mouse is from July 19, 1843. It was collected by John Gilbert, who worked for John Gould. The land around the Moore River used to be coastal heathland, woodlands, and forests.
Why Did the Big-Eared Hopping Mouse Disappear?
Many things likely caused the big-eared hopping mouse to become extinct. These include being hunted by feral cats, new diseases, and losing their homes. Their habitat was also damaged, and their food sources ran out because of farm animals and other wild animals.
New Diseases and Drought
New diseases played a big part in the mouse's extinction. A widespread disease affected many mammal species in Western Australia, including the big-eared hopping mouse. This disease, along with dry weather and the presence of feral cats, helped lead to its disappearance.
Losing Their Home
The big-eared hopping mouse lived in sand dune areas. In the 1800s, these areas were used for sheep farming and clearing land. Both of these activities harmed the soil, plants, and other natural materials the mouse needed. The destruction of their burrows, food, and resources led to the extinction of this species.
Hunted by Cats
After Europeans settled in Australia, many native Australian rodents became extinct. The big-eared hopping mouse was probably one of the first Australian mammals to disappear because of European settlers. Hopping mice were easy targets for farming, grazing animals, and especially introduced cats.
By the 1850s, wild cats were common in the Western Australian wheatbelt. They hunted many larger rodents. The big-eared hopping mouse had no way to defend itself against these new animals in Australia. Its extinction might have been caused by changes humans made to the environment. Being hunted is also a very likely reason. The exact year it became extinct is not known, but it might have been around the 1860s. This was soon after the last known mouse was collected.
Specialized Lifestyle
The big-eared hopping mouse had a very specific way of life. It was rare and had special features that helped it survive in its particular environment. However, species that are both rare and specialized are often more likely to become extinct. This might have made the big-eared hopping mouse more vulnerable.
Relatives of the Big-Eared Hopping Mouse
The big-eared hopping mouse (Notomys macrotis) belongs to the same group as the short-tailed hopping mouse (Notomys amplus) and the great hopping mouse (Notomys sp.). Both of these are also extinct. They are grouped together because they were similar in size.
It also looked similar to the fawn hopping mouse (Notomys cervinus) and the long-tailed hopping mouse (Notomys longicaudatus). This is because they all lacked a certain feature found in the spinifex hopping mouse (Notomys alexis) group. Its closest relative was probably the fawn hopping mouse.
See also
In Spanish: Ratón saltador de orejas grandes para niños
