Water mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Water mouseTemporal range: Recent
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Xeromys
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| Species: |
myoides
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The Xeromys myoides, also known as the water mouse or mangrove mouse, is a small rodent. It lives near water in Australia and Papua New Guinea. People also call it the false water rat because it looks a bit like a water rat but has different feet. It has other names too, like manngay and yirrkoo, which come from Indigenous languages.
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About the Water Mouse
A scientist named Oldfield Thomas first described this animal in 1889. He gave it the scientific name Xeromys myoides. It was recognized as a unique type of mouse. It is sometimes called the "false water rat." This is because its feet are not webbed like the true water rat.
What Does It Look Like?
The false water rat has a long, flat head. Its eyes are small, and its ears are short and round. These ears are about 10 to 14 millimeters long. It has only two molars on each side of its upper and lower jaw. Its upper front teeth are yellow or orange, and its lower front teeth are white.
Its body is about 85 to 120 millimeters long. It often looks a bit hunched over. Its tail is 85 to 100 millimeters long. The tail has few hairs and is covered in scales. Unlike the common water rat, its tail does not have a white tip.
The fur on its body is dark gray and can repel water. This dark fur slowly turns white on its belly. Its hands and feet are covered with fine, white hairs. The average weight of a false water rat is about 42 grams. This type of rodent has four teats. They also have a strong musky smell.
Where Do They Live?
The false water rat lives in Australia and Papua New Guinea. They were first thought to only live in Southeast Queensland and the Northern Territory. But later, they were found in other parts of Queensland. They also live on Melville Island and in southwest Western Province, Papua New Guinea.
These mice mostly live in mangrove forests. They also live in shallow areas around lagoons, swamps, and lakes. The water in these places can be salty or fresh.
Their nests are built at the bottom of mangrove trees. These nests look a lot like termite mounds. They are made of leaves and mud. Some nests can be as tall as 60 centimeters. Each nest usually has one entrance. Inside, there is a complex system of tunnels. These tunnels connect to many different rooms. Sometimes, their homes can even connect with other nests. This shows that they are social animals and can be friendly.
Because they do not have webbed feet and cannot swim well, they build their nests near shallow water. This allows them to walk in the water instead of swimming. This helps them find their food easily.
What Do They Eat?
False water rats rely on mangrove and salt marsh areas for food. They eat small animals without backbones. Their diet includes crabs, small mud lobsters, shellfish, snails, and worms. They usually eat at night and rest during the day.
Males typically search for food in an area of about 0.8 hectares. Females use a slightly smaller area, about 0.6 hectares. However, they can travel up to 2.9 kilometers each night to find food.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Scientists do not know much about the life cycle and breeding habits of this species. Their survival depends a lot on healthy mangrove forests, as this is where they find their food. It is believed that they breed all year round. They usually have only two young in each litter.
Up to eight false water rats can live together in one nest. These groups include both young and old mice, and both males and females. Usually, there is only one adult male that breeds.
Dangers and Threats
Human Impact
The biggest threat to false water rats is the loss of their wetland homes. Human activities cause their habitat to shrink and break into smaller pieces. Less than 2,000 square kilometers of their habitat remain. City growth in Queensland has led to wetlands being cleared or changed.
The quality of their homes continues to get worse. This is mainly because mangrove areas are being developed. More development means more oil pollution and dirty water. It also leads to chemical contamination and changes in natural water flow. All these things harm the water mouse. Farming, livestock grazing, and draining swamps also destroy their homes. Because of these problems, they are listed as a vulnerable species.
Natural Threats
Natural changes in sea level can alter the plant zones. This affects the areas where saltmarsh, mangrove, and land plants grow. Wetlands in northern Australia are at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change.
Animal Predators
Several animals hunt the false water rat. These include foxes, cats, carpet pythons, rough-scaled snakes, tawny frogmouths, and pigs. Large animals like pigs can damage their habitat. Competition for food from other animals also directly affects the water mouse.
How We Can Protect Them
False water rats do not cause harm to humans or the economy. They also do not have any known economic benefits for people. However, they help keep the marine environment balanced by eating certain populations. This indirectly helps local industries that rely on the ocean.
Over the years, people have released pollution and waste. This has caused the false water rat's habitat to shrink. We can help them survive by being careful with construction and digging. We also need to properly get rid of garbage and waste. Using chemicals and other products safely is important too. Controlling natural and unnatural predators will also help.
Protecting wetlands and mangroves is key. This will not only save the false water rat and other animals from extinction. It will also protect our shores from waves. It can reduce the impact of floods and absorb natural pollutants. Plus, these areas provide homes for many plants and animals.
