Rock-loving mouse

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Rock-loving mouse
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Mus
Species:
M. saxicola
Binomial name
Mus saxicola
Elliot, 1839
Synonyms [1]
  • Leggada cindrellaWroughton, 1912
  • Leggada platythrix subsp. sadhuWroughton, 1911
  • Leggadilla gurkhaThomas, 1914
  • Mus platythrix subsp. gurkha(Thomas, 1914)
  • Mus platythrix ssp. ramnadensis(Bentham, 1908)
  • Mus platythrix subsp. sadhu(Wroughton, 1911)
  • Mus ramnadensisBentham, 1908
  • Mus spinulosusBlyth, 1854

The rock-loving mouse (Mus saxicola), also known as the brown spiny mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. [1]

The following description is by Sir Walter Elliot:

The brown spiny mouse lives entirely in the red gravelly soil in a burrow of moderate depth, generally on the side of a bank. When the animal is inside the entrance is closed with small pebbles, a quantity of which is collected outside, by which its retreat may always be known. The burrow leads to a chamber in which is collected a bed of small pebbles on which it sits, the thick close hair of the belly protecting it from the cold and asperity of such a seat. Its food appears to be vegetable. In its habits it is monogamous and nocturnal. [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Molur, S.; Nameer, P.O. (2008). "Mus saxicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T13979A4377160. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T13979A4377160.en .
  2. Elliot, Walter (1884). Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon. London: Thacker & Co.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.