Forrest's mouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Forrest's mouse
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Leggadina
Species:	forresti

The Forrest's mouse (Leggadina forresti), also called the desert short-tailed mouse, is a small rodent that lives in Australia. It's part of the Muridae family, which includes many mice and rats. You can find this mouse across the dry and semi-dry parts of inland Australia. It often lives in grassy areas, shrublands, or woodlands with mulga trees or savannah plants.

Physical Description of the Forrest's Mouse

The Forrest's mouse is a tiny creature. It usually weighs between 15 and 25 grams. Some have been recorded up to 30 grams. It has a short, thick tail. This tail is distinctly less than 70% of its head and body length.

Its body is sturdy, with a wide, blunt nose. It has relatively small ears and eyes. Its fur is short, shiny, and pale yellow-brown or greyish. It has darker hairs mixed in. There are small white patches behind its ears. Its chin, lower jaw, and feet are white. The tail is grey on top and pale grey underneath. Its ears are rounded and pinkish-grey.

Taxonomy: How the Forrest's Mouse Got Its Name

Oldfield Thomas first identified Leggadina forresti in 1906. He found a specimen at Alexandria Station in the Northern Territory. The Leggadina group has two species. Both are found in Australia. These are the Forrest's mouse and the tropical short-tailed mouse. The tropical short-tailed mouse is also known as the Lakeland Downs mouse (Leggadina lakedownensis). It lives in moist grasslands and tropical savannahs in northern Australia.

Over time, this species has had a few different scientific names. These are called synonyms:

• Mus forresti (Thomas, 1906)
• Pseudomys messorius (Thomas, 1925)
• Pseudomys waitei (Troughton, 1932)
• Gyomys berneyi (Troughton, 1936)

Where the Forrest's Mouse Lives (Distribution)

The Forrest's mouse is found across many dry and semi-dry parts of inland Australia. It is widespread but not found everywhere. You can find it from eastern Western Australia to central Queensland. It also lives in the Barkly Tableland in the Northern Territory. Its range extends to Cockburn in South Australia.

In New South Wales, it has been seen in Sturt National Park and Tibooburra. Scientists have also found its old bones (sub-fossil remains) at Mutawintji National Park.

Conservation Status: Is the Forrest's Mouse Safe?

The Forrest's mouse was once listed as "Lower Risk/near threatened" in 1996. This was on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, in 2008, it was re-evaluated. Now, it is considered a species of "least concern." This means it is not currently at high risk of extinction.

The Forrest's mouse is not listed under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. But in New South Wales, it is listed as "Vulnerable." This is under Schedule 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Ecology and Habitat of the Forrest's Mouse

Example of habitat of the Forrest's mouse

The Forrest's mouse is a nocturnal animal. This means it is active at night. It is also a terrestrial animal, meaning it lives on the ground. During the day, it hides in a grass nest. These nests are often in shallow burrows. Sometimes, they are at the base of spinifex grass clumps. They also hide in cracks in the soil.

Not much is known about how many Forrest's mice live together. We also don't know much about their social lives. It is thought they are solitary animals. This means they live alone. They seem to live in low numbers, even in good habitats. These mice can enter a state of torpor. This is like a deep sleep to save energy. It has been seen in both captive and wild mice. They are estimated to live for about 1.5 to 2 years.

Their habitats are quite varied. They live in forests near rivers, tussock grasslands, and stony saltbush plains. They also live in mulga and savannah woodlands, chenopod shrublands, and sandy ridges. Cracking clay pans are another type of habitat they use.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

The Forrest's mouse mostly has babies during winter and spring. Some breeding also happens in autumn. This is thought to be linked to rainfall. A mother usually has 3 to 4 young in a litter. The babies grow inside the mother for about 35 days. They are then nursed for about 28 days. At this time, the young weigh around 9 grams. It is not clear how old they are when they can start having their own babies.

Diet of the Forrest's Mouse

The Forrest's mouse eats many different things. It is considered an omnivore. This means it eats both plants and animals. Its diet includes seeds, green plant stems, and leaves. It also eats arthropods like beetles and spiders. Fungi are another food source.

Scientists have looked at what's inside their stomachs. They found that seeds were the main food item, making up 47% of their diet. Arthropods were next, at 27%. The rest was made up of plant stems and leaves. It is generally believed that the Forrest's mouse does not need to drink standing water. It gets enough moisture from its food. This is similar to other desert rodents that are well-adapted to dry places.

Predators of the Forrest's Mouse

The Forrest's mouse is hunted by both introduced animals and native predators. Feral cats (Felus catus) and the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) have been seen hunting the Forrest's mouse in Queensland. These introduced predators are a big reason why native rodents are declining.

The barn owl (Tyto alba) is known to hunt this mouse in South Australia. Other birds of prey also eat the Forrest's mouse. This includes the letter-winged kite (Elanus scriptus) in the Simpson Desert. Studies have shown that dingos (Canis lupus dingo) might also be a threat. This is based on the mouse's size, behavior, and habitat.

Threats to the Forrest's Mouse

Several things threaten the Forrest's mouse. Heavy grazing by farm animals like domestic stock, feral goats, rabbits, and pigs is a big problem. When these animals graze, they remove shrubs and grasses. These plants provide food and shelter for the mouse. Their hooves also compact the topsoil. This makes it hard or impossible for the mouse to dig burrows. It can also make the Forrest's mouse easier for predators to catch. It also makes it harder for them to move between different safe areas.

Predation by feral cats and foxes is a major threat. Other introduced species, like the house mouse (Mus domesticus), can help keep predator numbers high. The house mouse and other introduced plant-eaters also compete with the Forrest's mouse for food and habitat.

The loss of habitat due to wrong or changed fire patterns is also a threat to native rodents. However, it's not clear if the Forrest's mouse is badly affected by current fire patterns. We also don't know what kind of fire history it needs to thrive.

The use of 1080 poison (sodium monofluoroacetate) for pest control could harm the Forrest's mouse. They might eat the poison baits. Pesticides used to control locusts could also be a threat.

New sources of standing water, like farm dams and irrigation, can attract predators and competitors. These water sources can also become places where many plant-eating animals gather. This can change the plants in the area.

Finally, the loss of habitat from clearing trees, shrubs, and grasses is a threat. Removing ground debris and hollows also reduces places for the mouse to live.