The first section is an index of mammal taxonomic orders. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. The spinifex hopping mouse notomys alexis is the most widespread of all hoppingmice and is found in central australia extending west in areas of sandy soil. Spinifex mouse is the heart warming tale of cheeky, a spinifex hopping mouse, who lives in the pilbara region of western australia.
The animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. Spinifex hoppingmice notomys alexis have large eyes and ears, big back feet, long tufted tails and move with a hopping and galloping gait. As with all hopping mice, their hind legs are greatly elongated, the fore limbs small, and the brushtipped tail is very long. Set in the pilbara region of western australia, spinifex mouse is a story about the nature of a little mouse and the very important lesson that he learns. They are relatively simply to look after, and by the looks of things we will have baby squirrel gliders at the end of the year. Spinifex hopping mouse notomys alexis the spinifex hopping mouse is an arid lands mouse well known for its long hind legs and tuft of hair at the end of its. Spinifex hoppingmice are relatively easy to obtain and can be kept indoors, although. The spinifex hopping mouse notomys alexis is the most widespread of all hoppingmice and is found in central australia extending. These features allow the mice to move quickly in bounding and zigzag like motions which helps them escape predators.
Please note that husbandry manuals are not currently available for all. The fur color of these mice is chestnut or fawn above, pale below, with a. Her vibrant watercolour illustrations have succeeded in capturing the personality of the spinifex hopping mouse perfectly, as he bounds around the desert on his large hind feet. Underparts white to greyishwhite, with small naked throatpatch. Spinifex mouse is the tale of a cheeky, spinifexhopping mouse who lives in the pilbara region of western australia. The spinifex hopping mouse is known for its long hind legs and tuft of hair at. Frazzled freya kindle edition by bennett, sandra, budd. National health and medical research council all information provided in this document is correct at the time of publication. The spinifex hoppingmouse is pale brown above, washed with reddishorange, with black guard hairs, and greyish face and snout. Wilburs wildlife are home to a group of 3 spinifex hopping mice. It has large ears and a long, brushtipped tail that is 15 cm long.
Spinifex mouse is the heartwarming tale of cheeky, a spinifex hopping mouse, who lives in the pilbara region of western australia. Found abundantly in the great victoria desert of western australia, n. We keep 4 species spinifex hopping mice, sugar gliders, squirrel gliders and brushtail possums. The long, needlelike leaves are also home to grasshoppers, beetles and other insects that use them to hide and camouflage themselves. Species include the spinifex hopping mouse, also known as the brown or northern hopping mouse, and the dusky hopping mouse. Every morning, when his family have returned to their burrow to sleep after a nights foraging, cheeky sneaks out again to look for more food and. Notomys alexis are light brown to chestnut dorsally and gray to white ventrally. While adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are. The spinifex hoppingmouse has a light brown coat with a grey white belly.
The extinct shorttailed hopping mouse notomys amplus was. A spinifex hopping mouse is a small rodent native to australia. The spinifex hopping mouse has many adaptions to help it survive. A case of melanoma in a native australian murid, the spinifex hoppingmouse notomys alexis. They also face threats from introduced predators such as foxes and cats. Spinifex hopping mice are a little larger than a common house mouse. Weve bred the spinifex hoppers several times now and they have more than doubled their numbers. Predators of the spinifex hopping mouse include dingoes, snakes and owls. Every morning, when his family have returned to their burrow to sleep after a nights foraging, cheeky sneaks out again to look for more food and practice his.
There were a few moments where the story stumbles in terms of its flow and continuity. It is illegal to kill or take spinifex hopping mice from the wild without a permit. As with all native species in the northern territory nt, the spinifex hopping mouse is protected. Lizards and snakes shelter amongst its sharp spikes and the small spinifex hopping mice build their tunnels a metre or more beneath the plants. The spinifex hopping mouse notomys alexis occurs throughout the central and western australian arid zones, occupyong both spinifex. Cheeky is an adventurous little mouse who loves to leap high into the air and practice acrobatic tricks. Every morning, when his family have returned to their. This paper reports a malignant melanoma in a captive spinifex hoppingmouse notomys alexis and is the first. Spinifex mouse is the tale of a cheeky, spinifex hopping mouse who lives in the pilbara region of western australia. These are three elderly females who are still with us from back when we breed hopping mice in a large colony. A guide to the care of spinifex hopping mice page 9 27. It has long hind legs with long feet, which enable it to move with a hopping motion rather than running like other mice. Tail long about 125 per cent of headbody, with fine tufted tip of whitishgrey hairs. According to alex, not only do their complex kidney structures allow them to manage the effects of the desert heat, but also their big feet.
What are the spinnifex hopping mouse adaptations answers. Hopping mice make amazing petsthey are the easiest and cutest rodents that you can get plus, they dont smell and they keep themselves clean. A spinifex hopping mouse in motion at hamelin reserve wa. These three are now retired and no longer travel for presentations and displays but are on show during our private tours. Spinifex hopping mouse five spiniflex hopping mice found a home at australia walkabout wildlife park, at calga. Click on the taxonomic link to be taken to the relevant section within the second section of the registry.
A guide to the care and use of australian native mammals. The spinifex hopping mouse is a small rodent that lives in the bushy australian desert. These hopping mice live in deep, simple burrows in the sand watts and aslin, 1981. For the best answers, search on this site i have had many spinifex hopping mice. The spinifex hopping mouse notomys alexis occurs throughout the central and western australian arid zones, occupying both spinifex covered sand flats and stabilised sand dunes, and loamy mulga and melaleuca flats. National health and medical research council 2014 a guide to the care and use of australian native mammals in research and teaching, canberra. Spinifex mouse by norma macdonald 9781925360691 booktopia. Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. Australias five species of hopping mice have long, narrow hind legs that allow them to hop quickly away from danger, and to dive down into their burrows. Asked in care of mice and rats, land mammals, mice and rats.
Spinifex hopping mouse news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2007 learn how and when to remove this template message. Spinifex hopping mice, weighing only 35 grams and measuring 100mm long are naturally found in the arid zone of central and. Spinifex hoppingmice are nocturnal and stay hidden during the heat of the day. Little does he know that brown snake is watching his every move. Hopping mice care sheet the spinifex hopping mouse notomys alexis is the most widespread of all hoppingmice and is found in central australia extending west in areas of sandy soil. You can get them from some pet stores, you may have to call around a few to find one that stocks them, but it is cruel to keep them if you are not going to look after them properly. Spinifex grass and caravanning without a hitch without.
Hummocky spiny spinifex is the characteristic vegetation. Included at the end of the book are a few fun facts about the reptiles that represent each of the characters, including a lace goanna, velvet gecko, northern brown snake and even a spinifex hopping mouse. Spinifex hopping mouse notomys alexis the spinifex hopping mouse is an arid lands mouse well known for its long hind legs and tuft of hair at the end of its long tail. They are rodents, not marsupials, and their ancestors are thought to have arrived from asia about 5 million years ago all are brown or fawn, fading to pale grey or white underneath, have very long tails and, as the common name implies, welldeveloped hind legs. This also helps to reduce their water loss as they are not out in the sun. Adw doesnt cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Spinifex hopping mouse australia walkabout wildlife park. They maintain in large part their traditional huntergatherer lifestyle within the territory, 1 over which their. The spinifex hopping mouse, notomys alexis, is widespread in the arid zone of central and western australia. These spinifex hopping mice notomys alexis have joined a wide variety of native animals at the park including grey kangaroos, several types of wallaby and emus. A hoppingmouse is any of about ten different australian native mice in the genus notomys. Annette ruzickabush heritage adapting to the desert. The fur color of these mice is chestnut or fawn above, pale below, with a grey wash about the muzzle and between the eye and ear.