Deomyinae is a subfamily of mammals in the rodent family Muridae, which in turn is part of the Myomorpha suborder in the order Rodentia. Members of this subfamily are called deomyines and include spiny mice and brush-furred rats. They are found in Africa, the Middle East, and Mediterranean islands, primarily in shrublands, grasslands, rocky areas, and forests, though some species can be found in deserts and savannas. They range in size from the Southern African spiny mouse, at 7 cm (3 in) plus a 6 cm (2 in) tail, to the black-clawed brush-furred rat, at 18 cm (7 in) plus a 10 cm (4 in) tail. Deomyines generally eat insects, grain, and grass, as well as other invertebrates and vegetation, frogs, and other small vertebrates. No deomyines have population estimates, but three species—the Mount Chercher brush-furred rat, Sheko Forest brush-furred rat, and Dieterlen's brush-furred mouse—are categorized as endangered, and one species—the Mount Lefo brush-furred mouse—is categorized as critically endangered.
The 55 extant species of Deomyinae are divided into 4 genera, ranging in size from 1 to 31 species. Several extinct prehistoric deomyine species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization are not fixed. [1]
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| EX | Extinct (0 species) |
| EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
| CR | Critically endangered (1 species) |
| EN | Endangered (3 species) |
| VU | Vulnerable (2 species) |
| NT | Near threatened (2 species) |
| LC | Least concern (30 species) |
| Other categories | |
| DD | Data deficient (9 species) |
| NE | Not evaluated (8 species) |
The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the deomyine's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.
Deomyinae is a subfamily of the rodent family Muridae consisting of 55 extant species in 4 genera. These genera range in size from 1 to 31 species. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species.
Subfamily Deomyinae
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists. [3]
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Minor spiny mouse | A. cilicicus Spitzenberger, 1978 | Southern Turkey | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas [5] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | DD
|
| Cairo spiny mouse | A. cahirinus (É. Geoffrey, 1803) | Northern Africa | Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 9–14 cm (4–6 in) tail [4] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas [7] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Cape spiny mouse | A. subspinosus (Waterhouse, 1838) | Southern South Africa | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Rocky areas and shrubland [9] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Chudeau's spiny mouse | A. chudeaui Kollmann, 1911 | Northwestern Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 7–13 cm (3–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas [7] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | NE
|
| Crete spiny mouse | A. minous (Bate, 1906) | Crete island in Greece | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Rocky areas and shrubland [10] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | DD
|
| Cyprus spiny mouse | A. nesiotes (Bate, 1903) | Cyprus | Size: 9–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Rocky areas [11] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | DD
|
| Eastern spiny mouse | A. dimidiatus (Cretzschmar, 1826) | Southwestern Asia and eastern Egypt | Size: 8–13 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Rocky areas, shrubland, forest, grassland, and desert [12] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Fiery spiny mouse | A. ignitus Dollman, 1910 | Southern Kenya and northeastern Tanzania | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail [4] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [13] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Golden spiny mouse | A. russatus (Wagner, 1840) | Southwestern Asia and eastern Egypt | Size: 10–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Rocky areas [14] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Gray spiny mouse | A. cineraceus Fitzinger & Heuglin, 1866 | Eastern Africa | Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 7–13 cm (3–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Rocky areas, savanna, shrubland, and grassland [15] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Johan's spiny mouse | A. johannis Thomas, 1912 | Western Africa | Size: 9–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 8–12 cm (3–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Rocky areas, grassland, and shrubland [16] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Kemp's spiny mouse | A. kempi Dollman, 1911 | Southwestern Asia and eastern Egypt | Size: 9–11 cm (4–4 in) long, plus 8–10 cm (3–4 in) tail [4] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [17] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Louise's spiny mouse | A. louisae Thomas, 1896 | Eastern Africa | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 8–11 cm (3–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Savanna, rocky areas, and grassland [18] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Mullah spiny mouse | A. mullah Thomas, 1904 | Eastern Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas [19] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Muze spiny mouse | A. muzei Verheyen, Hulselmans, Wendelen, Leirs, Corti, Backeljau, & Verheyen, 2011 | Eastern Africa | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 7–11 cm (3–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [20] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Nguru spiny mouse | A. ngurui Verheyen, Hulselmans, Wendelen, Leirs, Corti, Backeljau, & Verheyen, 2011 | Eastern Africa | Size: 7–11 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [21] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Percival's spiny mouse | A. percivali Dollman, 1911 | Eastern Africa | Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 3–10 cm (1–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Savanna, shrubland, and rocky areas [22] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Selous's spiny mouse | A. selousi de Winton, 1896 | Southern Africa | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest, rocky areas, and shrubland [23] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Seurat's spiny mouse | A. seurati Heim de Balsac, 1936 | Southern Algeria | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 10–13 cm (4–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Desert and rocky areas [24] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Southern African spiny mouse | A. spinosissimus Peters, 1852 | Southeastern Africa | Size: 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Rocky areas and savanna [25] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Western Saharan spiny mouse | A. airensis Thomas & Hinton, 1921 | Western Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 7–13 cm (3–5 in) tail [4] Habitat: Shrubland and rocky areas [26] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Wilson's spiny mouse | A. wilsoni Thomas, 1892 | Eastern Africa | Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 6–10 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Rocky areas, shrubland, and savanna [27] Diet: Omnivorous, but primarily grain, grass, and other plant material [6] | LC
|
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Link rat | D. ferrugineus Thomas, 1888 | Central Africa | Size: 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tail [28] Habitat: Inland wetlands and forest [29] Diet: Insects and other invertebrates, as well as vegetable matter [29] | LC
|
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angolan brush-furred rat | L. angolensis Verheyen, Dierckx, & Hulselmans, 2000 | Angola and southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo | Size: 11–16 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [30] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NE
|
| Ansorge's brush-furred rat | L. ansorgei (de Winton, 1896) | Western Africa | Size: 10–17 cm (4–7 in) long, plus 4–10 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [30] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NE
|
| Black-clawed brush-furred rat | L. melanonyx Petter, 1972 | Ethiopia | Size: 12–18 cm (5–7 in) long, plus 3–10 cm (1–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [32] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | VU
|
| Dark-colored brush-furred rat | L. cinereus Dieterlen & Gelmroth, 1974 | Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo | Size: 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [28] Habitat: Forest and grassland [33] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | DD
|
| Dieterlen's brush-furred mouse | L. dieterleni Verheyen, Hulselmans, Colyn, & Hutterer, 1997 | Western Cameroon | Size: 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 7–8 cm (3–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [34] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | EN
|
| Dudu's brush-furred rat | L. dudui Verheyen, Hulselmans, Dierckx, & Verheyen, 2002 | Northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo | Size: 8–13 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [28] Habitat: Grassland and forest [35] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NE
|
| Ethiopian forest brush-furred rat | L. chrysopus Osgood, 1936 | Ethiopia | Size: 10–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail [28] Habitat: Forest [36] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Fire-bellied brush-furred rat | L. nudicaudus Heller, 1911 | Western Africa | Size: 8–12 cm (3–5 in) long, plus 4–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [37] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Gray brush-furred rat | L. aquilus (True, 1892) | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 6–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [35] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NE
|
| Hutterer's brush-furred mouse | L. huttereri Verheyen, Colyn, & Hulselmans, 1996 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [38] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Kilonzo's brush furred rat | L. kilonzoi Verheyen, Hulselmans, Dierckx, Mulungu, Leirs, Corti, & Verheyen, 2007 | Eastern Tanzania | Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–10 cm (2–4 in) tail [28] Habitat: Forest [39] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Machandu's brush furred rat | L. machangui Verheyen, Hulselmans, Dierckx, Mulungu, Leirs, Corti, & Verheyen, 2007 | Southeastern Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 2–9 cm (1–4 in) tail [28] Habitat: Shrubland and forest [40] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | DD
|
| Makundi's brush-furred rat | L. makundii Verheyen, Hulselmans, Dierckx, Mulungu, Leirs, Corti, & Verheyen, 2007 | Tanzania | Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [28] Habitat: Shrubland and forest [41] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | DD
|
| Medium-tailed brush-furred rat | L. medicaudatus Dieterlen, 1975 | Central Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 7–10 cm (3–4 in) tail [28] Habitat: Forest [42] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | VU
|
| Mount Cameroon brush-furred rat | L. roseveari Verheyen, Hulselmans, Colyn, & Hutterer, 1997 | Western Cameroon | Size: 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland [43] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Mount Chercher brush-furred rat | L. chercherensis Lavrenchenko, Verheyen, Verheyen, Hulselmans, & Leirs, 2007 | Ethiopia | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 6–7 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [44] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | EN
|
| Mount Lefo brush-furred mouse | L. eisentrauti Dieterlen, 1978 | Western Cameroon | Size: 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long, plus 5–6 cm (2–2 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [45] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | CR
|
| North Western Rift brush-furred rat | L. menageshae Lavrenchenko, Verheyen, Verheyen, Hulselmans, & Leirs, 2007 | Central Ethiopia | Size: 12–15 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [46] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | DD
|
| Rahm's brush-furred rat | L. rahmi Verheyen, 1964 | Central Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 4–6 cm (2–2 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [47] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NT
|
| Rusty-bellied brush-furred rat | L. sikapusi (Temminck, 1853) | Western and central Africa | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [30] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Sabuni's brush-furred rat | L. sabunii Verheyen, Hulselmans, Dierckx, Mulungu, Leirs, Corti, & Verheyen, 2007 | Western Tanzania | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 3–8 cm (1–3 in) tail [28] Habitat: Shrubland and forest [48] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | DD
|
| Sheko Forest brush-furred rat | L. pseudosikapusi Lavrenchenko, Verheyen, Verheyen, Hulselmans, & Leirs, 2007 | Western Ethiopia | Size: 13–14 cm (5–6 in) long, plus 7–9 cm (3–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest [49] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | EN
|
| Short-tailed brush-furred rat | L. brevicaudus Osgood, 1936 | Ethiopia | Size: 9–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland [50] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NT
|
| Simien brush-furred rat | L. simensis Osgood, 1936 | Northern Ethiopia | Size: 11–15 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Forest and grassland [51] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Stanley's brush-furred rat | L. stanleyi Verheyen, Hulselmans, Dierckx, Mulungu, Leirs, Corti, & Verheyen, 2007 | Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and western Uganda | Size: 11–13 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 4–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [28] Habitat: Forest [52] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | DD
|
| Thomas's Ethiopian brush-furred rat | L. brunneus Thomas, 1906 | Southern Ethiopia | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 5–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [35] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NE
|
| Verhagen's brush-furred rat | L. verhageni Verheyen, Hulselmans, Dierckx, & Verheyen, 2002 | Northern Tanzania | Size: 11–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 4–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [28] Habitat: Grassland and forest [35] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NE
|
| Woosnam's brush-furred rat | L. woosnami Thomas, 1906 | Central Africa | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 10–14 cm (4–6 in) tail [28] Habitat: Rocky areas, forest, and shrubland [53] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Yellow-bellied brush-furred rat | L. luteogaster Dieterlen, 1975 | Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 9–12 cm (4–5 in) tail [28] Habitat: Forest [54] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Yellow-spotted brush-furred rat | L. flavopunctatus Thomas, 1888 | Central and eastern Africa | Size: 12–13 cm (5–5 in) long, plus 5–7 cm (2–3 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [35] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | LC
|
| Zena's brush-furred rat | L. zena Dollman, 1909 | Southern Kenya | Size: 10–14 cm (4–6 in) long, plus 4–9 cm (2–4 in) tail [8] Habitat: Grassland and forest [35] Diet: Insects, as well as other invertebrates, frogs, other small vertebrates, and vegetation [31] | NE
|
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rudd's mouse | U. ruddi Dollman, 1909 | Western, central, and eastern Africa | Size: 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long, plus 6–8 cm (2–3 in) tail [28] Habitat: Savanna and shrubland [55] Diet: Insects [56] | LC
|