Big-eared hopping mouse

The Großohrhüpfmaus ( Notomys macrotis ) is an extinct rodent from the genus of Australian Hüpfmäuse ( Notomys ). The Aborigines called them noompa.

Description

This rodent reached a head-body length of 118 mm. The tail length was about 140 mm. The length of the hind legs was about 40 mm and the ears of length 26 mm. The weight was about 55 g The type saw the fawn Australian Hüpfmaus ( Notomys cervinus ) are very similar, but had larger hind feet and therefore resembled a small kangaroo. The back was gray-brown and the underside white.

Dissemination

The only known habitat was the environment of the Moore River in Western Australia. She lived in the sand dunes, heathland, meadows and sparse forests.

Extinction

The Großohrhüpfmaus is only known from two stuffed specimens, which are now badly damaged. You are in the Natural History Museum in London. One of these animals was captured in July 1843 by the British naturalist John Gilbert, who was working at the time for John Gould and was killed in 1845 during an expedition of Aborigines. The exact reasons for the extinction of the Großohrhüpfmaus remain unclear to this day. The main reasons are probably as many Hüpfmausarten that have become extinct in Australia, the progressive agriculture and the persecution by introduced mammals such as foxes and feral cats to watch.