The Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus) is a murid rodent found in the Western Cape province of South Africa. They have a dorsal covering of spiny hairs with dark grey-brown colouration, and a white underbelly. 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. Their total length is 17 cm (6.7 in), with an 8 cm (3.1 in) tail, and they typically weigh 22 g (0.78 oz).
This species is largely endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa; its range just extends into the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces. The extent of occurrence is greater than 20,000 km², and can occur up to about 1,000m above sea level.
Habitatedit
Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation and rocky areas. They are terrestrial and nocturnal, but can be active in early morning and late afternoon in shadows cast by rocks.
Behaviouredit
Cape spiny mice may live singly or in small groups. They feed almost exclusively on seeds, especially ant dispersed seeds of Restionaceae and Proteaceae with elaiosomes. The remainder of the diet consists of green plant material and insects, millipedes, and snails. In addition, the cape spiny mouse feed extensively on Protea humiflora flower.
Breedingedit
Rather than having one set breeding season, cape spiny mice are opportunistic breeders, only reproducing when they have sufficient food sources.[2] They produce litters of 2-5 pups.
Valueedit
The cape spiny mouse contributes significantly to the pollination of Protea humiflora, and in turn gains the food resources that enable winter breeding. In addition to being a potential pollinator for a number of plant species, it also has a role in seed predation and hoarding in the fynbos, potentially contributing to the evolution of myrmecochory as a mechanism to evade rodent seed predation.
Referencesedit
^Palmer, G.; Midgley, J.; Pence, G.; Avery, M. (2017). "Acomys subspinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T275A110016981. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T275A110016981.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Fleming, P. A., and S. W. Nicolson. "Opportunistic breeding in the Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus)." African Zoology 37.1 (2002): 101-105.
Chris Stuart, T. S. (Ed.). (1988). A Field Guide to Mammals of South Africa (3rd ed.). Cape Town: New England Publishing.
Schlitter, D. & Taylor, P.J. 2008. Acomys subspinosus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 February 2014.
Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
Fleming, P., Nicolson, S. (2011). Opportunistic breeding in the cape spiny mouse (acomys subspinosus
African Zoology, 37(1)
Nel J.A.J., Rautenbach I.L. & Breytenbach G.J. 1980. Mammals of the Kammanassie Mountains, southern Cape Province. South African Journal of Zoology 15: 255–261.
Breytenbach G.J. 1982. Small mammal responses to environmental gradients in the Great Swartberg of the southern Cape.MScthesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Bond W., Ferguson M. & Forsyth G. 1980. Small mammals and habitat structure along altitudinal gradients in the southern Cape mountains. South African Journal of Zoology 15: 34–43.
Wiens, Delbert; Rourke, John P.; Casper, Brenda B.; Rickart, Eric A.; LaPine, T.R.; Peterson,J.; Channing, A: Nonflying Mammal Pollination of Southern African Proteas. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol 70, number 1, 1983
Bond W.J. & Breytenbach G.J. 1985. Ants, rodents and seed predation in Proteaceae. South African Journal of Zoology 20: 150–154
January 01, 1970
cape, spiny, mouse, acomys, subspinosus, murid, rodent, found, western, cape, province, south, africa, they, have, dorsal, covering, spiny, hairs, with, dark, grey, brown, colouration, white, underbelly, large, eyes, ears, scaly, nearly, bald, tail, that, brit. The Cape spiny mouse Acomys subspinosus is a murid rodent found in the Western Cape province of South Africa They have a dorsal covering of spiny hairs with dark grey brown colouration and a white underbelly 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 Their total length is 17 cm 6 7 in with an 8 cm 3 1 in tail and they typically weigh 22 g 0 78 oz Cape spiny mouse Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Muridae Genus Acomys Species A subspinosus Binomial name Acomys subspinosus Waterhouse 1838 Extant resident Contents 1 Range 2 Habitat 3 Behaviour 4 Breeding 5 Value 6 ReferencesRange editThis species is largely endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa its range just extends into the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces The extent of occurrence is greater than 20 000 km and can occur up to about 1 000m above sea level Habitat editIts natural habitats are Mediterranean type shrubby vegetation and rocky areas They are terrestrial and nocturnal but can be active in early morning and late afternoon in shadows cast by rocks Behaviour editCape spiny mice may live singly or in small groups They feed almost exclusively on seeds especially ant dispersed seeds of Restionaceae and Proteaceae with elaiosomes The remainder of the diet consists of green plant material and insects millipedes and snails In addition the cape spiny mouse feed extensively on Protea humiflora flower Breeding editRather than having one set breeding season cape spiny mice are opportunistic breeders only reproducing when they have sufficient food sources 2 They produce litters of 2 5 pups Value editThe cape spiny mouse contributes significantly to the pollination of Protea humiflora and in turn gains the food resources that enable winter breeding In addition to being a potential pollinator for a number of plant species it also has a role in seed predation and hoarding in the fynbos potentially contributing to the evolution of myrmecochory as a mechanism to evade rodent seed predation References edit Palmer G Midgley J Pence G Avery M 2017 Acomys subspinosus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T275A110016981 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T275A110016981 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Fleming P A and S W Nicolson Opportunistic breeding in the Cape spiny mouse Acomys subspinosus African Zoology 37 1 2002 101 105 Chris Stuart T S Ed 1988 A Field Guide to Mammals of South Africa 3rd ed Cape Town New England Publishing African spiny mouse Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc 2014 Web 20 Feb 2014 lt http www britannica com EBchecked topic 560260 African spiny mouse gt Schlitter D amp Taylor P J 2008 Acomys subspinosus In IUCN 2013 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2013 2 lt www iucnredlist org gt Downloaded on 21 February 2014 Musser G G Carleton M D 2005 Superfamily Muroidea In Wilson D E Reeder D M Mammal Species of the World 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press pp 894 1531 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Fleming P Nicolson S 2011 Opportunistic breeding in the cape spiny mouse acomys subspinosus African Zoology 37 1 Nel J A J Rautenbach I L amp Breytenbach G J 1980 Mammals of the Kammanassie Mountains southern Cape Province South African Journal of Zoology 15 255 261 Breytenbach G J 1982 Small mammal responses to environmental gradients in the Great Swartberg of the southern Cape MScthesis University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa Bond W Ferguson M amp Forsyth G 1980 Small mammals and habitat structure along altitudinal gradients in the southern Cape mountains South African Journal of Zoology 15 34 43 Wiens Delbert Rourke John P Casper Brenda B Rickart Eric A LaPine T R Peterson J Channing A Nonflying Mammal Pollination of Southern African Proteas Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol 70 number 1 1983 Bond W J amp Breytenbach G J 1985 Ants rodents and seed predation in Proteaceae South African Journal of Zoology 20 150 154 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cape spiny mouse amp oldid 1196591775, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
