Kemp's grass mouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kemp's grass mouse
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Genus:	Deltamys Thomas, 1917
Species:	D. kempi
Binomial name
Deltamys kempi Thomas, 1917
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.
Synonyms
Akodon kempi (Thomas, 1917)

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

Kemp's grass mouse is a small rodent that lives in South America. Its scientific name is Deltamys kempi. This mouse is special because it's the only species in its group, called the Deltamys genus. It used to be thought of as part of another mouse group, Akodon. But now scientists agree it's unique enough to have its own group! The mouse is named after Robin Kemp, who helped collect these animals for a museum.

What Does It Look Like?

Kemp's grass mouse is bigger than a regular house mouse. It can grow to about 18 cm (7 inches) long. This length includes its tail, which is about 8 cm (3 inches) long.

This mouse has small eyes and ears. Its legs are also quite short. Its fur is thick and soft. The fur is a very dark brown, almost black, over most of its body. This dark color fades to a brownish-grey on its belly. The tail has only fine hairs. You can see scales along its tail.

Where Does It Live?

Kemp's grass mouse lives in South America. You can find it near the mouth of the Río de la Plata. This area is in the Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos provinces of Argentina. It also lives all over southern and eastern Uruguay. You can find it near the coast of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil.

This mouse likes to live in wetlands that don't have trees. These places include marshlands and grassy floodplains. Sometimes, it can be found at the edges of forests.

Scientists recognize two types, or subspecies, of Kemp's grass mouse:

• Deltamys kempi kempi - This type lives in Argentina.
• Deltamys kempi langguthi - This type lives in Uruguay and Brazil.

How Does It Live?

Even though Kemp's grass mouse lives in wet areas, it is not a very strong swimmer. Its feet are better for digging in the ground. These mice have been seen making their nests above the ground. They might nest in fallen tree trunks. They also build nests under grasses or leaves.

Kemp's grass mice are omnivorous. This means they eat both plants and animals. They eat more animal matter, especially insects, than most other rodents. The barn owl is a common predator that hunts these mice.