Fiery spiny mouse

The fiery spiny mouse (Acomys ignitus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae[2] found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas. It may be found as a commensal[3] in human habitations.

Fiery spiny mouse
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Acomys
Species:
A. ignitus
Binomial name
Acomys ignitus
Dollman, 1910

Description

While most spiny mice are small in size, the fiery spiny mouse (A. ignitus) is slightly larger, measuring at approximately 10 cm in length.[4][5] The species gets its name from the hair on their coats that are connected in groups. These groups of hair are stiff guard hairs, resembling tiny quills and they are able to separate from the skin quite easily.[5] Unlike other species in the genus, the fiery spiny mouse does not lose its bare, scaled tail as easily.

The fiery spiny mouse varies in color from a deep brown to a reddish mixed with some black on its back while the belly is white. The dorsal surface color has also been described as being orange in color.[4] It has medium-sized ears and black eyes.[5]

Distribution and Habitat

The fiery spiny mouse is found in Northeastern Tanzania, near the Usambara Mountains and in Southern Kenya.[6][7] It has a strictly confined habitat, occupying primarily rocky habitats in dry savannas in lower altitudes between 700 meters to 1,000 meters.[6] The species is isolated on cliffs and outcrops and as a result, there's uneven distribution among populations.[6]

However, it's not uncommon to find the species in gardens, grain storage units and straw huts.[6] In human settlements, the fiery spiny mouse has an advantage when competing against Wilson's spiny mouse (A. wilsoni), gaining preferred resources.[3] With human settlements there's more dietary resources, like seeds.[3]

Phylogeny

The fiery mouse is in the order Rodentia and in the family Muridae. It is thought to be most closely related to Acomys pulchellus, Acomys kempi, Acomys montanus, and Acomys cahirinus.[8]

Diet

The fiery spiny mouse is omnivorous, even though it primarily eats grains, it also eat insects.[5] They drink water easily and in dry bush country, they suck the water from leaves.[5]

Behavior

Generally, fiery spiny mice are gentle in nature and rarely bite. They are also described as being very shy.[5] However, in some cases, when living in groups, an individual will kill and somewhat eat the other members of the group. This was a behavior that was observed primarily in captivity.[5] The fiery spiny mouse is nocturnal, doing most of its activity in the night hours.[5]

References
  1. Schlitter, D. & Dieterlen, F. (2008). "Acomys ignitus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2009.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. 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. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. Weissbrod, Lior; Marshall, Fiona B.; Valla, François R.; Khalaily, Hamoudi; Bar-Oz, Guy; Auffray, Jean-Christophe; Vigne, Jean-Denis; Cucchi, Thomas (2017-03-24). "Origins of house mice in ecological niches created by settled hunter-gatherers in the Levant 15,000 y ago". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 114 (16): 4099–4104. doi:10.1073/pnas.1619137114. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 5402403. PMID 28348225.
  4. Dollman, Guy. "The Spiny Mice of British East Africa" (PDF). Biodiversity Library.
  5. Hubbard, C. Andresen (1972-11-01). "Observations on the life histories and behaviour of some small rodents from Tanzania". African Zoology. 7 (2). ISSN 1562-7020.
  6. NICOLAS, VIOLAINE; GRANJON, LAURENT; DUPLANTIER, JEAN-MARC; CRUAUD, CORINNE; DOBIGNY, GAUTHIER (2009-09-01). "Phylogeography of spiny mice (genus Acomys, Rodentia: Muridae) from the south-western margin of the Sahara with taxonomic implications". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 98 (1): 29–46. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2009.01273.x. ISSN 0024-4066.
  7. "Acomys ignitus (Fiery Spiny Mouse)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
  8. Capanna, Ernesto; Castiglia, Riccardo; Colangelo, Paolo; Corti, Marco; Scanzani, Alessandra; Fadda, Carlo; Verheyen, Walter; Machang’u, Robert; Makundi, Rodes (2001-03-01). "The rodent fauna of Tanzania: a cytotaxonomic report from the Maasai Steppe (1999)". Rendiconti Lincei. 12 (1): 29–49. doi:10.1007/BF02904520. ISSN 1120-6349. S2CID 53555083.
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