Cairo spiny mouse

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Cairo spiny mouse
Common spiny mouse.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Acomys
Species:
A. cahirinus
Binomial name
Acomys cahirinus
(É. Geoffrey, 1803) [2]
Acomys cahirinus map.svg
Synonyms

Acomys chudeaui

The Cairo spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus), also known as the common spiny mouse, Egyptian spiny mouse, or Arabian spiny mouse, is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Africa north of the Sahara Desert, where its natural habitats are rocky areas and hot deserts. It is omnivorous, feeding on seeds, desert plants, snails, and insects. It is a gregarious animal and lives in small family groups. It is the first and only known rodent species that exhibit spontaneous decidualization and menstruation. [3]

Contents

Description

The Cairo spiny mouse grows to a head and body length of about 3.75 to 5 in (95 to 127 mm) with a tail of much the same length. Adults weigh between 1.5 and 3 oz (43 and 85 g). The colour of the Cairo spiny mouse is sandy-brown or greyish-brown above and whitish beneath. A line of spine-like bristles run along the ridge of the back. The snout is slender and pointed, the eyes are large, the ears are large and slightly pointed and the tail is devoid of hairs. [4]

The spiny mouse is known to have relatively weak skin, [5] compared to Mus musculus , and tail autotomy. [6]

Distribution and habitat

The Cairo spiny mouse is native to northern Africa with its range extending from Mauritania, Morocco, and Algeria in the west to Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt in the east at altitudes up to about 1,500 m (4,900 ft). It lives in dry stony habitats with sparse vegetation and is often found near human dwellings. It is common around cliffs and canyons and in gravelly plains with shrubby vegetation. It is not usually found in sandy habitats, but may be present among date palms. [1] [7]

Behaviour

Captive specimens at Birmingham Nature Centre Birmingham Nature Centre - Arabian Spiny Mouse - Andy Mabbett.jpg
Captive specimens at Birmingham Nature Centre

Cairo spiny mice are social animals and live in a group with a dominant male. Breeding mostly takes place in the rainy season, between September and April, when availability of food is greater. [7] The gestation period is five to six weeks, which is long for a mouse, and the young are well-developed when they are born. At this time, they are already covered with short fur and their eyes are open, and they soon start exploring their surroundings. The adults in the group cooperate in caring for the young, with lactating females feeding any of the group offspring. [7] Females may become pregnant again immediately after giving birth, and have three or four litters of up to five young in a year. The juveniles mature at two to three months of age. [7] [8]

Cairo spiny mice live in burrows or rock crevices and are mostly terrestrial, but they can also clamber about in low bushes. They are nocturnal and omnivorous, eating anything edible they can find. Their diet includes seeds, nuts, fruit, green leaves, insects, spiders, molluscs, and carrion. When they live in the vicinity of humans, they consume crops, grain, and stored food. [7] They sometimes enter houses, especially in winter, and dislike cold weather. [4]

The fruit of Ochradenus baccatus (= Reseda baccata) has pleasant tasting flesh, but distasteful seeds. The Cairo desert mouse consumes the fruits, but spits the seeds out intact and thus acts as an efficient seed dispersal agent for this plant. [9]

The Cairo spiny mouse is a host of the Acanthocephalan intestinal parasite Moniliformis acomysi . [10]

Status

The Cairo spiny mouse has a wide distribution and occupies diverse habitats. It is common and the population size large, so the IUCN, in its Red List of Threatened Species, lists it as being of "Least Concern". [1]

Research interest

The spiny mouse is used for research in diabetes, development, regeneration, and menstruation. [11]

The spiny mouse is also the first known rodent species to exhibit spontaneous decidualization and menstruation, potentially serving as a great candidate model to study menstrual related diseases. It exhibits a 9-day cycle, and is the first rodent found to have such a cycle. [12] As of 2017, gene sequencing has been underway [13] to investigate this, and other unique physiological traits displayed by this species.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muridae</span> Family of rodents

The Muridae, or murids, are either the largest or second-largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 870 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cricetidae</span> Family of rodents

The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At over 870 species, it is either the largest or second-largest family of mammals, and has members throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murinae</span> Subfamily of rodents

The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. Members of this subfamily are called murines. In terms of species richness, this subfamily is larger than all mammal families except the Cricetidae and Muridae, and is larger than all mammal orders except the bats and the remainder of the rodents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deomyinae</span> Subfamily of rodents

The subfamily Deomyinae consists of four genera of mouse-like rodents that were previously placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae. They are sometimes called the Acomyinae, particularly in references that antedate the discovery that the link rat, Deomys ferugineus, is part of the clade. Deomyinae is the older name and therefore has priority over Acomyinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spiny mouse</span> Genus of rodents

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 tails which contain osteoderms, a rare feature in mammals. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden spiny mouse</span> Species of rodent

The golden spiny mouse gets its name from the reddish-orange spiny fur that covers its body from head to tail. This coarse, inflexible fur is thought to protect it from predation. Aside from the golden fur that covers its head and upper parts, its flanks are yellow and its underside is pale. It has gray legs with pale feet and black soles. It is also described as having a small, but distinct white spot under each eye. It is often found in the wild missing a part or all of its tail because it is able to shed this as a defense mechanism. However, it is not known how this is done, how often it can occur, or under what conditions. It lives an average of three years in the wild. It is omnivorous and feeds on seeds, desert plants, snails, and insects. Living in desert regions, it is a xeric animal that obtains water from the plants that it eats and produces very concentrated urine in order to conserve water. A. russatus is naturally nocturnal, but adapts to being diurnal when it shares a habitat with A. cahirinus.

The Western Saharan spiny mouse or Aïr spiny mouse is a species of small, insectivorous rodent in the family Muridae found arid regions of western Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia Minor spiny mouse</span> Species of rodent

The Asia Minor spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Percival's spiny mouse</span> Species of rodent

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape spiny mouse</span> Species of rodent endemic to South Africa

The Cape spiny mouse is a murid rodent found in the Western Cape province of South Africa. They have a dorsal covering of spiny hairs with dark grey-brown colouration, and a white underbelly. The Cape spiny mouse has large eyes and ears and a scaly, nearly bald tail that is brittle and can break off readily either as a whole or in part if it is caught. Their total length is 17 cm (6.7 in), with an 8 cm (3.1 in) tail, and they typically weigh 22 g (0.78 oz).

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.Molecular evidence suggests that spiny mice (Acomys) are genetically more closely related to gerbils (Gerbillinae) than they are to actual mice (Muridae) based on their murine morphology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandy inland mouse</span> Species of rodent

The sandy inland mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. Also known as the Hermannsburg (Mission) false-mouse or Hermannsburg mouse, it is endemic to Australia and found widely yet sparsely through arid and semi-arid areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern spiny mouse</span> Species of rodent

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moniliformidae</span> Family of worms

Moniliformidae is a family of parasitic spiny-headed worms. It is the only family in the Moniliformida order and contains three genera: Australiformis containing a single species, Moniliformis containing eighteen species and Promoniliformis containing a single species. Genetic analysis have determined that the clade is monophyletic despite being distributed globally. These worms primarily parasitize mammals, including humans in the case of Moniliformis moniliformis, and occasionally birds by attaching themselves into the intestinal wall using their hook-covered proboscis. The intermediate hosts are mostly cockroaches. The distinguishing features of this order among archiacanthocephalans is the presence of a cylindrical proboscis with long rows of hooks with posteriorly directed roots and proboscis retractor muscles that pierce both the posterior and ventral end or just posterior end of the receptacle. Infestation with Monoliformida species can cause moniliformiasis, an intestinal condition characterized as causing lesions, intestinal distension, perforated ulcers, enteritis, gastritis, crypt hypertrophy, goblet cell hyperplasia, and blockages.

Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining (endometrium). It occurs on a regular basis in uninseminated sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Acomys cahirinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T263A115048396. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T263A22453346.en . Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. ↑ Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Étienne (1803). Catalogue des Mammiferes du Museum National d'historie naturelle. p. 195.
  3. ↑ Bellofiore, Nadia; Ellery, Stacey J.; Mamrot, Jared; Walker, David W.; Temple-Smith, Peter; Dickinson, Hayley (January 2017). "First evidence of a menstruating rodent: the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus)". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 216 (1): 40.e1–40.e11. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.07.041. PMID   27503621. S2CID   88779.
  4. 1 2 Konig, Claus (1973). Mammals. Collins & Co. p. 139. ISBN   978-0-00-212080-7.
  5. ↑ Seifert, Ashley; Kiama, Stephen; Seifert, Megan; Goheen, Jacob; Palmer, Todd; Maden, Malcolm (2012). "Skin shedding and tissue regeneration in African spiny mice (Acomys)". Nature. 489 (7417): 561–5. Bibcode:2012Natur.489..561S. doi:10.1038/nature11499. PMC   3480082 . PMID   23018966.
  6. ↑ Shargal, Eyal; Rath-Wolfson, Lea; Kronfeld, Noga; Dayan, Tamar (1999). "Ecological and histological aspects of tail loss in spiny mice (Rodentia: Muridae, Acomys) with a review on its occurrence in rodents". Journal of Zoology. 249 (2): 187–193. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00757.x.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Regula, Clara (2012). "Acomys cahirinus: Cairo spiny mouse". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Egyptian spiny mouse, Cairo spiny mouse". World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Samuni-Blank, M; Izhaki, I; Dearing, MD; Gerchman, Y; Trabelcy, B; Lotan, A; Karasov, WH; Arad, Z (2012). "Intraspecific directed deterrence by the mustard oil bomb in a desert plant". Current Biology. 22 (13): 1218–1220. Bibcode:2012CBio...22.1218S. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.04.051 . PMID   22704992.
  10. ↑ Ward, Helen L.; Nelson, Diane R. (1967). "Acanthocephala of the Genus Moniliformis from Rodents of Egypt with the Description of a New Species from the Egyptian Spiny Mouse (Acomys cahirinus)". The Journal of Parasitology. 53 (1): 150–156. doi:10.2307/3276638. JSTOR   3276638. PMID   6066757.
  11. ↑ Pinheiro, G; Prata, DF; Araujo, IM; Tiscornia, G (2018). "The African spiny mouse (Acomys spp.) as an emerging model for development and regeneration". Lab Animal. 52 (6): 565–576. doi:10.1177/0023677218769921. PMID   29699452. S2CID   13811194.
  12. ↑ Bellofiore, Nadia; Cousins, Fiona; Temple-Smith, Peter; Evans, Jemma (1 February 2019). "Altered exploratory behaviour and increased food intake in the spiny mouse before menstruation: a unique pre-clinical model for examining premenstrual syndrome". Human Reproduction. 34 (2): 308–322. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dey360 . ISSN   0268-1161. PMID   30561655.
  13. ↑ Mamrot, Jared; Legaie, Roxane; Ellery, Stacey J.; Wilson, Trevor; Seemann, Torsten; Powell, David R.; Gardner, David K.; Walker, David W.; Temple-Smith, Peter; Papenfuss, Anthony T.; Dickinson, Hayley (21 August 2017). "De novo transcriptome assembly for the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus)". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 8996. Bibcode:2017NatSR...7.8996M. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-09334-7. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   5566366 . PMID   28827620.
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