The Tien Shan birch mouse grows to a length of about 70 mm (2.8 in) with a tail length of about one and a half times its body length. The dorsal fur is a uniform yellowish-grey and there is no vertebral stripe as there is in the long-tailed birch mouse (Sicista caudata). The flanks are straw-coloured, the chin and throat are white and the underparts whitish-grey tinged with buff. The back of the skull is longer than that of the southern birch mouse (Sicista subtilis).[2]
Distribution and habitat
The Tien Shan birch mouse is native to China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Its typical habitat is piedmont plains, mountain forests, alpine meadows and forest borders.[1]
Behaviour
The Tien Shan birch mouse does not have the specialised limbs of the Dipodidae, but still moved primarily by jumping. The long tail is semi-prehensile and assists it by winding round small branches when it scrambles about in bushes and low vegetation.[2] It is primarily nocturnal, being particularly active at dusk. It feeds mainly on insects, molluscs and earthworms early in the year, moving on to a diet of berries and seeds in the summer and autumn. It hibernates for a long period, depending on location. In the Issyk-kul region it is only active between May and October. One litter of three to seven young is born around mid-summer.[1]
Status
The Tien Shan birch mouse has a wide range and is locally abundant, though its population fluctuates considerably. No specific threats have been identified and there are several protected areas within its distribution range, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being of "least concern".[1]
References
^ abcdCassola, F. (2016). "Sicista tianshanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T20195A22204006. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T20195A22204006.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^ abAndrew T. Smith; Yan Xie (2008). A guide to the mammals of China. Princeton University Press. pp. 207–. ISBN978-0-691-09984-2.
Holden, M.E.; Musser, G.G. (2005). "Family Dipodidae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 871–893. ISBN978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
February 24, 2023
tien, shan, birch, mouse, sicista, tianshanica, species, rodent, family, sminthidae, found, china, kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, mammaliaorder, rodentiafamily. The Tien Shan birch mouse Sicista tianshanica is a species of rodent in the family Sminthidae It is found in China Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Tien Shan birch mouseConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily SminthidaeGenus SicistaSpecies S tianshanicaBinomial nameSicista tianshanica Salensky 1903 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Behaviour 4 Status 5 ReferencesDescription EditThe Tien Shan birch mouse grows to a length of about 70 mm 2 8 in with a tail length of about one and a half times its body length The dorsal fur is a uniform yellowish grey and there is no vertebral stripe as there is in the long tailed birch mouse Sicista caudata The flanks are straw coloured the chin and throat are white and the underparts whitish grey tinged with buff The back of the skull is longer than that of the southern birch mouse Sicista subtilis 2 Distribution and habitat EditThe Tien Shan birch mouse is native to China Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Its typical habitat is piedmont plains mountain forests alpine meadows and forest borders 1 Behaviour EditThe Tien Shan birch mouse does not have the specialised limbs of the Dipodidae but still moved primarily by jumping The long tail is semi prehensile and assists it by winding round small branches when it scrambles about in bushes and low vegetation 2 It is primarily nocturnal being particularly active at dusk It feeds mainly on insects molluscs and earthworms early in the year moving on to a diet of berries and seeds in the summer and autumn It hibernates for a long period depending on location In the Issyk kul region it is only active between May and October One litter of three to seven young is born around mid summer 1 Status EditThe Tien Shan birch mouse has a wide range and is locally abundant though its population fluctuates considerably No specific threats have been identified and there are several protected areas within its distribution range so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being of least concern 1 References Edit a b c d Cassola F 2016 Sicista tianshanica IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T20195A22204006 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 2 RLTS T20195A22204006 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 a b Andrew T Smith Yan Xie 2008 A guide to the mammals of China Princeton University Press pp 207 ISBN 978 0 691 09984 2 Holden M E Musser G G 2005 Family Dipodidae In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press pp 871 893 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tien Shan birch mouse amp oldid 1054832163, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
