Senegal one-striped grass mouse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Senegal one-striped grass mouse
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Lemniscomys
Species:	L. linulus
Binomial name
Lemniscomys linulus (Thomas, 1910)
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The Senegal one-striped grass mouse (scientific name: Lemniscomys linulus) is a small rodent. It belongs to the Muridae family, which includes many mice and rats. You can find this mouse in parts of West Africa. Its home is mainly dry savanna areas. Countries where it lives include Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, and Senegal. This mouse was once thought to be a type of Lemniscomys griselda. But now, scientists agree it's its own unique species.

What Does the Senegal Grass Mouse Look Like?

This little mouse is about 110 mm (4.33 in) long from its head to its body. Its tail is usually about the same length. The fur on its back is a buffy-grey color. It might have a yellowish tint near its back legs. A clear dark stripe runs down its spine. It also has some faint stripes on its sides. These side stripes are made of tiny pale spots. Sometimes, these spots are hard to see.

The mouse's belly is white. A buff-colored line separates the dark fur on its back from the white fur underneath. Its tail is dark on top and buff underneath. The sides of its tail are a yellowish-brown color. Its feet are covered in buff-colored hairs.

Other mice that look similar are Lemniscomys striatus and Lemniscomys zebra. However, those two mice have very clear pale stripes on their sides. The Senegal one-striped grass mouse's stripes are much less noticeable.

Where Does the Senegal Grass Mouse Live?

The Senegal one-striped grass mouse lives only in West Africa. This means it is endemic to that region. It is found west of a place called the Dahomey Gap. You can find it in countries like Mali, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Senegal.

This mouse usually lives in dry savanna areas. But it can also be found in other places. These include savannas with trees, bushy areas, grasslands, and even farmlands.

Is the Senegal Grass Mouse Safe?

This grass mouse lives in a specific part of West Africa. People say it is common in Ivory Coast. Scientists have not found any big threats to this mouse. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has looked at its status. They have decided it is a least concern species. This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.