It is found in Africa north of the Sahara, where its natural habitats are rocky areas and hot deserts. Skin shedding and tissue regeneration in African spiny mice (Acomys). Mouse - Mouse - Geographic distribution and habitat: All species of Mus are native to Eurasia and Africa, where they range from lowlands to mountaintops. Spiny mice in the pet trade include the Arabian Spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus dimediatus) and the more commonly available Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus cahirinus). Nature 489:561–565. Habitat: Where do African Civets live. They are very curious, active animals, especially when provided with novel items in their habitat. Spiny mice are widespread throughout Africa and the Middle East and inhabit primarily rocky habitats with scant and often seasonally variable resource availability (Fitzherbert et al., 2006; Medger et al., 2010; Wube et al., 2008). These stiff hairs are why they are called the spiny mouse. The Cape Spiny Mouse has large eyes and ears and a scaly, nearly bald tail that is brittle and can break off readily either as a whole or in part if it is caught. Classification of Species . The term spiny mouse refers to any species of rodent within the genus Acomys. The Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus) is a murid rodent found in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. They look like mice of the genus Mus. We recently discovered the common or Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus), a rodent native to Africa and the Middle East, undergoes spontaneous decidualisation and subsequent menstruation, being the only known rodent to exhibit overt menses (Bellofiore et al. Much of their range originally consisted of open grasslands or grassy patches in forests. African civets choose all areas that have a constant supply of enough water, food and shelter.

Spiny mice is a collective term used for mice within Acomys. Spiny mice are small mammals with bare, scaled tails. They normally live in mountains and the swamps, and in the lowland forests and tropical or subtropical grasslands. The term spiny mouse refers to any species of rodent within the genus Acomys. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion. On a cellular level, typical mouse skin and African spiny mouse skin look more or less the same. The five species in the subgenus Pyromys are found in Sri Lanka, India, and mainland Southeast Asia. Phylogeographic patterns in the Horn of Africa have recently attracted researchers searching for hidden diversity and explaining the evolutionary history of this region. In this paper, we focus on spiny mouse Acomys louisae. The Research Center on Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail in Africa is home to Cairo spiny mice. Within the genus, They are usually called Spiny mice in English.

It measures 1.2 - 3.1 inches (3.04 to 7.874 cm) and can weigh less than .35 ounces (.01 kg). We examined 88 samples from 13 localities across Somaliland and sequenced CYTB, control region and IRBP genes. However, their coats are endowed with unusually stiff guard hairs similar to the spines of a hedgehog; this trait is the Habitat / Climate warm temperatures and should be maintained around 80 degrees Where am I from? The African pygmy is the smallest known mouse on the planet. 2017). South Africa, the southern African spiny mouse (Acomys spinosissimus). Similar in appearance to mice of the genus Mus, spiny mice are small mammals with bare, scaled tails. The Curious Mouse. It is a invertivore . Since Cairo spiny mice are near the bottom of the food chain, they often seek shelter in rock crevices or cracked soil. Skinner JD, Chimimba CT. 2005. These measurements do … Their coats have unusually stiff guard hairs that work the same way as the spines of a hedgehog. The Cairo spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus), also known as the common spiny mouse, Egyptian spiny mouse, or Arabian spiny mouse, is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Muridae.

It is omnivorous and feeds on seeds, desert plants, snails, and insects. Young Spiny Mouse Acomys minous What is the history of my relationship to man?

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. In the pet trade, they are most commonly referred to as Egyptian spiny mice.

African Civet Range. Spiny Mice are frequently kept as exotic pets around the world, particularly Western nations such as the United States. Spiny mice have a lifespan of 3-5 years. Third edition.

They have a dorsal covering of spiny hairs with dark grey-brown coloration, and a white underbelly. Acomys spinosissimus (Southern African Spiny Mouse -- Spiny Mouse) is a species of rodents in the family Muridae. It is found in the Afrotropics . However, spiny mice have far larger hair follicles than typical mice.