Fawn hopping mouse

Reddish-brown Australian Hüpfmaus ( Notomys cervinus )

The Reddish-brown Australian Hüpfmaus ( Notomys cervinus ), also known as Fawn Hüpfmaus, is a rodent of the genus Australian Hüpfmäuse, which is native to the central Australian desert.

Features

Like all Australian Hüpfmäuse has the Reddish-brown Australian Hüpfmaus strong front teeth, a long tail, dark eyes, big ears, well-developed hips and long, narrow hind feet. The head-body length is 95 to 120 mm. The weight is between 30 and 50 g The color varies from light pink - fawn to gray at the top and white at the bottom. The 120 to 160 mm long tail is bi-colored (white on the bottom and darker at the top ) and ends in a dark brush. The ears are round, dark eyes are especially large and the whiskers are 65 mm long. The females have four abdominal teats.

Occurrence and habitat

The preferred habitat of the fawn-colored Australian Hüpfmaus the gravel plains and Lehmpfannen in the basin of Lake Eyre. The circulation area covers parts of northern South Australia and the extreme south-western Queensland. Records from the late 19th century show that the former distribution area was larger.

Way of life

The Reddish-brown Australian Hüpfmaus lives in small family groups of two to four individuals. During the day they seek shelter in buildings that are flatter than those of the sand-dwelling species Notomys fuscus, but to one meter deep and have between one and three outputs. During the night they lay hundreds of meters back in search of food. They feed on seeds, buds and insects. Like other Australian Hüpfmäuse comes the kind without water, but it is able to metabolize highly saline water when it is available. After a gestation period of 38 days, the females give birth from one to five fully developed young.

Status

The IUCN lists the species in the category " endangered" ( vulnerable ). The population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 adult animals. The sources of danger are unknown, however, climate change, destabilization and erosion are held due to the trampling of soil by ungulates and predation by carnivores likely.