Mitchell's hopping mouse (Notomys mitchellii) also known as the pankot, is the largest extant member of the genus Notomys, weighing between 40 and 60 g (1.4 and 2.1 oz). N. mitchellii is a bipedalrodent with large back legs, similar to a jerboa or kangaroo rat. The species occurs throughout much of semi-arid Southern Australia, and appears to be particularly common on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Typical habitat for N. mitchellii appears to be mallee shrublands on sandy dune systems. The species is currently considered to be unthreatened, but its range has been reduced through habitat disturbance and destruction associated with European settlement in Australia.
Individuals are a sandy grey colour, with white chest hairs and a paler underbelly. The tail of the species is long and has the characteristic hopping mouse brush at the tip. This tail morphology is thought to aid balance when travelling at speed. Being nocturnal, Notomys mitchellii shelters during the day in typical hopping mouse burrows; a small number of interconnected, vertical shafts, burrowing deep into the dune. Up to eight animals, different ages and sex, have been found in a single burrow.
N. mitchellii is known to have a lifespan of up to five years in the laboratory and this is thought to be a strategy evolved to combat the breeding-constraints of lengthy periods of drought. It has also been found that this species is less able to cope with water deprivation than other species of the genus. Notomys mitchellii produces concentrated urine to conserve water, but in a different way to more arid-dwelling rodents. The diet of N. mitchellii is also thought to consist of more roots and green matter than that of other species of the genus: animals captured in drought conditions had stomach contents consisting of some 85% roots, 11% green leaf and 4% seed.
As a petedit
A 2010 report by the Australian Government Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation into the feasibility of keeping Australian native mammals as pets concluded that "Mitchell's hopping mouse is a suitable species for widespread keeping as a pet." As of 2010[update], this would require changes to legislation or policy in most Australian states and territories.[2] As of late 2013, Mitchell's hopping mice can be kept as pets without a licence in Victoria (Australia),[3] however commercial breeding still requires a licence to prevent removal of mice from the wild.
Victorian Wildlife Regulations 2013 - Schedule 4B Species are commonly kept by large numbers of the general public. Husbandry techniques are simple and well established. A license is required to obtain and, sell these species for commercial purposes as a safe guard against take from the wild. A license is not required for private purposes.
Referencesedit
^Morris, K.; Robinson, T.; Copley, P.; Burbidge, A. (2008). "Notomys mitchellii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T14869A4467099. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T14869A4467099.en.
^Cooney, Rosie; Chapple, Rosalie; Doornbos, Sarah; Jackson, Stephen (October 2010). Australian Native Mammals as Pets: A feasibility study into conservation, welfare and industry aspects (Report). Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. p. xiii. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.35057.79208. ISBN978-1-74254-043-6.
^Marsupial Society (2013). "Wildlife Regulations 2013: Summary and Guide to the Regulatory Impact Statement" (PDF). Retrieved 8 January 2014.
Further readingedit
Watts, C.H.S.; Aslin, H.J. (1981). The Rodents of Australia. London: Angus & Robertson.
Baverstock, P.R. (1979). "A Three Year Study of the Mammals and Lizards of Billiatt Conservation Park in the Murray Mallee, South Australia". South Australian Naturalist (53): 52–58.
mitchell, hopping, mouse, notomys, mitchellii, also, known, pankot, largest, extant, member, genus, notomys, weighing, between, mitchellii, bipedal, rodent, with, large, back, legs, similar, jerboa, kangaroo, species, occurs, throughout, much, semi, arid, sout. Mitchell s hopping mouse Notomys mitchellii also known as the pankot is the largest extant member of the genus Notomys weighing between 40 and 60 g 1 4 and 2 1 oz N mitchellii is a bipedal rodent with large back legs similar to a jerboa or kangaroo rat The species occurs throughout much of semi arid Southern Australia and appears to be particularly common on the Eyre Peninsula South Australia Typical habitat for N mitchellii appears to be mallee shrublands on sandy dune systems The species is currently considered to be unthreatened but its range has been reduced through habitat disturbance and destruction associated with European settlement in Australia Mitchell s hopping mouseConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily MuridaeGenus NotomysSpecies N mitchelliiBinomial nameNotomys mitchellii Ogilby 1838 Individuals are a sandy grey colour with white chest hairs and a paler underbelly The tail of the species is long and has the characteristic hopping mouse brush at the tip This tail morphology is thought to aid balance when travelling at speed Being nocturnal Notomys mitchellii shelters during the day in typical hopping mouse burrows a small number of interconnected vertical shafts burrowing deep into the dune Up to eight animals different ages and sex have been found in a single burrow N mitchellii is known to have a lifespan of up to five years in the laboratory and this is thought to be a strategy evolved to combat the breeding constraints of lengthy periods of drought It has also been found that this species is less able to cope with water deprivation than other species of the genus Notomys mitchellii produces concentrated urine to conserve water but in a different way to more arid dwelling rodents The diet of N mitchellii is also thought to consist of more roots and green matter than that of other species of the genus animals captured in drought conditions had stomach contents consisting of some 85 roots 11 green leaf and 4 seed As a pet editA 2010 report by the Australian Government Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation into the feasibility of keeping Australian native mammals as pets concluded that Mitchell s hopping mouse is a suitable species for widespread keeping as a pet As of 2010 update this would require changes to legislation or policy in most Australian states and territories 2 As of late 2013 Mitchell s hopping mice can be kept as pets without a licence in Victoria Australia 3 however commercial breeding still requires a licence to prevent removal of mice from the wild Victorian Wildlife Regulations 2013 Schedule 4B Species are commonly kept by large numbers of the general public Husbandry techniques are simple and well established A license is required to obtain and sell these species for commercial purposes as a safe guard against take from the wild A license is not required for private purposes References edit Morris K Robinson T Copley P Burbidge A 2008 Notomys mitchellii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008 e T14869A4467099 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2008 RLTS T14869A4467099 en Cooney Rosie Chapple Rosalie Doornbos Sarah Jackson Stephen October 2010 Australian Native Mammals as Pets A feasibility study into conservation welfare and industry aspects Report Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation p xiii doi 10 13140 RG 2 2 35057 79208 ISBN 978 1 74254 043 6 Marsupial Society 2013 Wildlife Regulations 2013 Summary and Guide to the Regulatory Impact Statement PDF Retrieved 8 January 2014 Further reading editWatts C H S Aslin H J 1981 The Rodents of Australia London Angus amp Robertson Baverstock P R 1979 A Three Year Study of the Mammals and Lizards of Billiatt Conservation Park in the Murray Mallee South Australia South Australian Naturalist 53 52 58 Strahan Ronald ed 1998 The Mammals of Australia National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife Sydney NSW Reed New Holland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mitchell 27s hopping mouse amp oldid 1153533321, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
