Long-tailed hopping mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-tailed hopping mouse |
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| Drawing of Notomys longicaudatus | |
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Notomys
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| Species: |
longicaudatus
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The long-tailed hopping mouse (Notomys longicaudatus) was a type of rodent that lived only in Australia. Sadly, it is now extinct. Scientists believe the last one was seen around 1901 or 1902.
We don't know exactly why these mice disappeared. It might have been because of animals that hunted them, or changes to their habitat. Not much is known about how they lived, but we do know they dug burrows in hard clay soil. These mice were mostly gray with small pink ears, big eyes, and a long, hairy pink tail. Their tail was about two inches longer than their body! The famous scientist John Gould first described this mouse in 1844.
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Discovering the Long-tailed Hopping Mouse
The first long-tailed hopping mice were found in 1843 by a naturalist named John Gilbert. He sent five of these mice to John Gould, who then officially described them as Notomys longicaudatus. The very first mouse was discovered near Alice Springs during a scientific trip to Australia.
What Did the Long-tailed Hopping Mouse Look Like?
Adult long-tailed hopping mice were about 10 to 11 inches long from nose to tail. Their body, without the tail, was about 4 inches long. The tail itself was quite long, measuring about 6 to 7 inches!
These mice had soft gray fur, small pink ears, and large, dark eyes. Their long pink tail had tiny bristles of hair on it. Unlike some of its relatives, like the short-tailed hopping mouse or the great hopping mouse, the long-tailed hopping mouse had a smaller body compared to its very long tail.
What Did the Long-tailed Hopping Mouse Eat?
The long-tailed hopping mouse mainly ate fruits, grains, and plants. John Gould noted that they really liked raisins! Even though they enjoyed farm foods, they weren't considered a nuisance like some other mice. They would sometimes stay close to farms and grocery stores, especially when food became harder to find in the wild.
Where Did the Long-tailed Hopping Mouse Live?
The long-tailed hopping mouse lived in the dry, inland parts of Australia. They were found across the Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales, and Western Australia. They preferred dry areas that still had some greenery.
These clever mice dug burrows in clay-like soil. They would use the extra soil to build small mounds above ground. These mounds helped them collect dew and moisture in the mornings, giving them a source of water in their dry environment.
Why Did the Long-tailed Hopping Mouse Disappear?
By the 1890s, people started to worry that the long-tailed hopping mouse was becoming endangered. The last known live mouse died in a scientific lab in Adelaide in 1901.
Scientists believe the mice became extinct for a few reasons. It could have been due to a rapid increase in human population in their habitat. This would have changed their living areas and reduced their food. Another big reason might have been too much hunting by animals like foxes, wild cats, thylacines, hawks, and owls.
Even though the long-tailed hopping mouse is considered extinct since 1901, some interesting discoveries have been made. A skeleton was found near Kalgoorlie in 1944. Later, in 1977, another skeleton was found inside an owl pellet. However, until a live long-tailed hopping mouse is found, it will remain officially extinct.
