Fringe-eared Mindoro forest mouse

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Fringe-eared Mindoro forest mouse
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Apomys
Species:
A. crinitus
Binomial name
Apomys crinitus
Heaney, Balete, M. R. M. Duya, M. V. Duya, Kyriazis, Rickart, Steppan, & Rowsey, 2025 [1]

The fringe-eared Mindoro forest mouse or long-haired Mindoro forest mouse (Apomys crinitus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae, from the genus Apomys , in the subgenus Megapomys. [1] It is found only in the island of Mindoro in the Philippines where was found at elevations between 140 and 880 m above sea level. [2] Its natural habitat is deciduous karst forests. [2] The species is characterized by its brown fur at the back, with bellies that are cream-colored, a mask of dark-color fur in the face, and tufts or fringe of conspicuous white hairs behind the ear. [3] [2] It has a head–body length of 128 mm. [2] Generally, males (54–80 g) weigh more than females (60 g). [2] The conservation status of the species is not evaluated. [1]

Contents

Distribution

The species is known only from Mindoro Island, at Mts. Talullah and Mangibok, in the Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park. [3] [2]

Etymology

The specific epithet was derived from Latin crinitus which means long-haired, in reference to its characteristic fringe of white hair behind each ear. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Heaney, L. R.; Balete, D. S.; Duya, M. R. M.; Duya, M. V.; Kyriazis, C. C.; Rickart, E. A.; Steppan, S. J.; Rowsey, D. (2025). "Apomys crinitus (Fringe-eared Mindoro Forest Mouse)". Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 5 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Heaney, L. R.; Balete, D. S.; Duya, M. R. M.; Duya, M. V.; Kyriazis, C. C.; Rickart, E. A.; Steppan, S. J.; Rowsey, D. M. (2025). "Three new species of Philippine forest mice (Apomys, Muridae, Mammalia), members of a clade endemic to Mindoro Island". Zootaxa. 5647 (1): 1–26. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5647.1.1.
  3. 1 2 3 Constantino, Rio (13 June 2025). "Small bodies, big histories: Three new species of Philippine forest mice". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.