Sandy inland mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sandy inland mouse |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pseudomys
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| Species: |
hermannsburgensis
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| Sandy inland mouse range | |
The sandy inland mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis) is a small rodent that belongs to the Muridae family. It is also called the Hermannsburg mouse. This mouse lives only in Australia. You can find it in dry and semi-dry areas across the country, though not in huge numbers.
Contents
What Does the Sandy Inland Mouse Look Like?
The sandy inland mouse has fur that is greyish-brown to sandy-brown. Its belly is off-white. Adult mice usually weigh about 9 to 15 grams. They are about 5.5 to 8 centimeters long from their nose to the base of their tail. Their tail is even longer, measuring 7 to 9 centimeters.
This mouse looks a bit like a common house mouse. However, the sandy inland mouse does not have notched front teeth. It also does not have the strong, musky smell that house mice have. You can tell the sandy inland mouse apart from other similar mice by looking at the pads on its feet. It also has smaller ears and back feet than Bolam’s Mouse. Its tail is shorter and has less fur, which helps tell these two species apart.
How Was the Sandy Inland Mouse Named?
The sandy inland mouse was first described in 1896. This happened after a scientific trip called the Horn expedition in 1894. Scientists studied the animals and plants of central Australia during this trip.
The mouse was first named Mus hermannsburgensis. Later, it was moved to the Pseudomys group, where it has stayed since 1970.
Where Does the Sandy Inland Mouse Live?
The sandy inland mouse lives only in Australia. It is found in dry and semi-dry parts of central, southern, and western Australia.
You can find this mouse in many states and territories. These include New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Scientists have studied them a lot in New South Wales. They have been seen in places like Sturt National Park and near Broken Hill.
They also live on some islands off the coast of Western Australia. These islands include Dirk Hartog, Dixon, Rosemary, and Hope. Even though some mice have traveled far, up to 14 kilometers, most populations in central Australia tend to stay in one place.
What Kind of Home Does It Like?
The sandy inland mouse usually lives in open areas. It prefers soft soils like sand or sandy loam. These are often found on dry plains and sand dunes.
You might find them in areas with grassy hummocks or flat lands with Mulga trees. They also like areas with Coolibah and Acacia trees. Their diet includes a lot of spinifex seeds. Because of this, they often look for food under thick spinifex plants. They even prefer areas where spinifex has been burned.
How Does the Sandy Inland Mouse Live?
Life Cycle and Habits
The sandy inland mouse is a nocturnal animal, meaning it is active at night. During the day, it hides in burrows up to 50 centimeters underground. Sometimes, it even uses burrows made by other animals.
When they are not breeding, many mice might gather in one burrow. During breeding times, groups are usually smaller, with about 4 or 5 mice. Their burrows do not have a pile of soil at the entrance.
Scientists once thought these mice might go into a sleep-like state called torpor. However, it is now believed they do not use torpor to save energy or water. They can, however, survive if their body temperature drops very low.
What Does the Sandy Inland Mouse Eat?
The sandy inland mouse is an omnivore. This means it eats both plants and animals, depending on what is available. In autumn, they mostly eat grains, especially spinifex seeds, and other plant parts. But during this time, they also eat a lot more invertebrates, sometimes up to 60% of their food!
Spiders are the most common invertebrates they eat. They also enjoy beetles and their larvae. Scientists think they eat more insects in autumn because there are more insects after the rain.
The sandy inland mouse does not have special features like cheek pouches or ways to store seeds. This is why they are better suited to an omnivorous diet. Also, because they live in very dry places, eating whatever they can find helps them survive.
Studies show that these mice choose seeds with more water in them. This is very important for living in dry Australia. They can even live forever on just air-dried seeds without needing to drink water.
Reproduction
The sandy inland mouse does not have a strict breeding season. Instead, they breed when there has been rain or when there is plenty of food. This is called an opportunistic breeding strategy.
Pregnancy lasts between 29 and 34 days. A typical litter has 3 or 4 babies. In captivity, they can have up to 5 or 6 babies. The young are born without fur and weigh about 2 grams. They grow up quickly, becoming independent at 30 days old. They can start having their own babies when they are 3 months old.
Population Changes
The sandy inland mouse is known as an r-strategist. This means their populations can stay small during long dry periods. But after a lot of rain, their numbers can grow very quickly. In some parts of western Queensland, their population has increased by 40 times! These changes in numbers are mostly linked to how much food is available after big rain events.
What Threats Does It Face?
The biggest threat to the sandy inland mouse is changes to its home. This often happens because of grazing animals like cattle or sheep. Other dangers include being hunted by foxes, cats, and Barn Owls. Poisons used to control pests and new water points created by humans can also harm them.
How Is It Protected?
The sandy inland mouse is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means it is not currently at high risk of disappearing globally.
In New South Wales, however, it is listed as "vulnerable." This means it needs special protection there. Queensland also lists it as "Least Concern."
The mouse is not listed as threatened in any other Australian state or territory. It is also not listed under Australia's main environmental protection law.
See also
In Spanish: Pseudomys hermannsburgensis para niños
