The term spiny mouse refers to any species of rodent within the genus Acomys. Similar in appearance to mice of the genus Mus, spiny mice are small mammals with bare, scaled tails. However, their coats are endowed with unusually stiff guard hairs similar to the spines of a hedgehog; this trait is the source of the common name, spiny mouse.
The gray spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, rocky areas, arable land, and rural gardens.
Kemp's spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Kenya, Somalia, and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas. It is one of only two mammals, the other being Acomys percivali, which can shed its skin. In addition, it is known to be capable of completely regenerating damaged tissue, including hair follicles, skin, sweat glands, fur and cartilage.
Louise's spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and rocky areas.
The Mullah spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and rocky areas.
Percival's spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and rocky areas. It is one of two known species of mammals, the other being Acomys kempi, capable of completely regenerating damaged tissue, including hair follicles, skin, sweat glands, fur and cartilage.
Wilson's spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and rocky areas.
Bocage's rock rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
Kaiser's rock rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The Nyika rock rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest.
Tinfields rock rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Cameroon and Nigeria. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.
The Sudanian grass rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, possibly Benin, possibly Ivory Coast, possibly Ghana, possibly Guinea, and possibly Togo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, irrigated land, seasonally flooded agricultural land, and canals and ditches.
The white-toothed brush mouse, also known as the white-toothed melomys or white-toothed mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in West Papua, Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.
The woodland thicket rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, arable land, pastureland, and urban areas.
Peters's striped mouse or Peters's hybomys is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
The Natal multimammate mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. The Natal multimammate rat is the natural host of the Lassa fever virus.
Phillips's mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in India. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and hot deserts. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Saunder's vlei rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in South Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.
Robbins's tateril, or the Sahel gerbil, is a species of rodent found across Mauritania and possibly Mali and Niger. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
The eastern spiny mouse or Arabian spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. They have a wide range, having been found in Middle Eastern deserts, as well as being prevalent in riverine forests in Africa. This is the only species of spiny mouse which may have black coloration. Their diet is similar to other species of spiny mouse, consisting mostly of seeds.
