The body and head of silky mice tend to be between 65-80 millimeters, with their tail length ranging from 90-110 millimeters. They tend to weigh between 16-22 grams.[2] They have light brown and grey fur on their backs, and white fur on their bellies.[2][3]
Silky mice are native to Australia, specifically south-eastern Australia (western Victoria).[3] They live in sandy heathlands near plants such as banksias, tea-trees, broombush and mallee eucalypts, which they use to shelter the entrance to their burrows. These mice will dig complex burrows about 2 cm in diameter with multiple tunnels and chambers.[2][3][1] In order to support their heavily herbivorous diet, they need a high plant diversity in their habitat consisting of plants which will bloom and bear fruit throughout the entire year. Silky mice are negatively affected by intensely high temperatures and water shortages.[2]
Behavior and Ecology
Silky mice are nocturnal creatures that rest in their burrows during the day, and go searching for seeds, nectar, flowers, and fruit at night. While they are primarily herbivores, silky mice sometimes consume cockroaches in the winter in order to supplement their diet.[2] Silky mice are able to breed anytime throughout the year, but usually do so when food conditions are favorable. They tend to have two to five young per litter and they are able to birth successive litters.[2][1] The Silky mouse tends to live up to two years.[1]
Endangerment
Many pieces of environmental legislation has been passed to preserve the species,[according to whom?] such as the Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995), the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999), the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974), the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979), and the Native Vegetation Conservation Act (1998).[2] One of the largest threats to the silky mouse population is the destruction of habitat, from both human building and from damage to regional flora due to fires.[2][1] However, the population has been on a rebound and it is no longer considered endangered, but threatened because it lives in such a specific area.[1]
References
^ abcdefCassola, F.; Menkhorst, P. (2016). "Pseudomys apodemoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T18559A22397943. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T18559A22397943.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ abcAustralia, Atlas of Living. "Pseudomys apodemoides : Silky Mouse | Atlas of Living Australia". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
^"Pseudomys apodemoides : Silky Mouse". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1454. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
March 05, 2023
silky, mouse, silky, mouse, pseudomys, apodemoides, species, rodent, family, muridae, found, only, australia, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, mammaliaorder, rodentiafamily, muridaegenu. The silky mouse Pseudomys apodemoides is a species of rodent in the family Muridae It is found only in Australia Silky mouseConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily MuridaeGenus PseudomysSpecies P apodemoidesBinomial namePseudomys apodemoidesFinlayson 1932 Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat 3 Behavior and Ecology 4 Endangerment 5 ReferencesDescription EditThe body and head of silky mice tend to be between 65 80 millimeters with their tail length ranging from 90 110 millimeters They tend to weigh between 16 22 grams 2 They have light brown and grey fur on their backs and white fur on their bellies 2 3 Habitat Edit Map of Silky Mouse Sightings 4 Silky mice are native to Australia specifically south eastern Australia western Victoria 3 They live in sandy heathlands near plants such as banksias tea trees broombush and mallee eucalypts which they use to shelter the entrance to their burrows These mice will dig complex burrows about 2 cm in diameter with multiple tunnels and chambers 2 3 1 In order to support their heavily herbivorous diet they need a high plant diversity in their habitat consisting of plants which will bloom and bear fruit throughout the entire year Silky mice are negatively affected by intensely high temperatures and water shortages 2 Behavior and Ecology EditSilky mice are nocturnal creatures that rest in their burrows during the day and go searching for seeds nectar flowers and fruit at night While they are primarily herbivores silky mice sometimes consume cockroaches in the winter in order to supplement their diet 2 Silky mice are able to breed anytime throughout the year but usually do so when food conditions are favorable They tend to have two to five young per litter and they are able to birth successive litters 2 1 The Silky mouse tends to live up to two years 1 Endangerment EditMany pieces of environmental legislation has been passed to preserve the species according to whom such as the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1998 2 One of the largest threats to the silky mouse population is the destruction of habitat from both human building and from damage to regional flora due to fires 2 1 However the population has been on a rebound and it is no longer considered endangered but threatened because it lives in such a specific area 1 References Edit a b c d e f Cassola F Menkhorst P 2016 Pseudomys apodemoides IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T18559A22397943 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 2 RLTS T18559A22397943 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 a b c d e f g h Silky Mouse profile SW Environment amp Heritage Retrieved 2016 10 08 a b c Australia Atlas of Living Pseudomys apodemoides Silky Mouse Atlas of Living Australia bie ala org au Retrieved 2016 10 08 Pseudomys apodemoides Silky Mouse Atlas of Living Australia Retrieved 2016 10 08 Musser G G Carleton M D 2005 Superfamily Muroidea In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press p 1454 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silky mouse amp oldid 1054710020, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
