Cerrado mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerrado mouse |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Thalpomys
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| Species: |
cerradensis
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The Cerrado mouse (scientific name: Thalpomys cerradensis) is a small rodent that lives in South America. You can find it mainly in the Cerrado region of Brazil.
Contents
What Does the Cerrado Mouse Look Like?
The Cerrado mouse is bigger than its only close relative, the hairy-eared cerrado mouse. Its body, from head to tail, is usually longer than 90 mm (3.5 in).
Fur and Color
Its fur is thick and a bit stiff. The main color of its back is reddish-brown. Each hair has a dark base, an orange middle, and a dark tip. It also has longer, black hairs mixed in. The sides and belly of the mouse are lighter in color. Its chin is a light yellowish-brown, and the areas around its eyes and on its cheeks are orangish.
Feet and Tail
The tops of its back feet are also light yellowish-brown. Its feet are small, with short outer toes and tiny claws. The tail is covered with hair and is brown on top and light yellowish-brown underneath.
Where Does the Cerrado Mouse Live?
This mouse lives only in the Cerrado region of Brazil. You can find it in the states of Bahia, Goiás, and Mato Grosso.
Its Home
The Cerrado mouse likes to live in open grasslands. It also lives in savannas, which are like grasslands with a few scattered trees. Sometimes, it can be found in wetter grassy areas where palm trees grow.
After Wildfires
Interestingly, these mice quickly move back into areas that have been affected by wildfires. They are often most common in these places less than two years after a fire.
How Does the Cerrado Mouse Live?
The Cerrado mouse is most active right after the sun sets and in the hours before the sun rises. This means it is mostly active at night.
How Scientists Study Them
In some areas, like the state of Bahia, researchers rarely catch these mice in special traps used for small animals. However, scientists know the mice are there because they find many of them in owl pellets. Owl pellets are the undigested parts of prey (like bones and fur) that owls spit up after eating. By studying these pellets, scientists can learn what the owls are eating, which helps them know what animals live in the area.
Is the Cerrado Mouse in Danger?
The Cerrado mouse lives across a wide area, but its population is spread out in patches. The grasslands where it lives are facing threats.
Threats to Their Home
More and more land is being used for large farms. People are also burning plants to make charcoal, and new dams are being built for irrigation. These activities can harm the mouse's habitat.
Conservation Status
Even though the number of Cerrado mice might be going down, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says it is a species of "least concern". This means they believe the population is not declining fast enough to put it in a more threatened group right now.
