Stone-loving mouse

Stone-loving mouse
Mouse picking stones
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Mus
Species:	M. platythrix
Binomial name
Mus platythrix Bennett, 1832

The flat-haired mouse (Mus platythrix) also known as Stone-loving mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in India, where it is widely distributed throughout South India and central India.

Behavior

The 'kall-eli (Tamil: கல் எலி, lit. "stone rat"), a local name in southern India, has been noted for arranging pebbles around its burrow entrances. This behavior may help deter predators and stabilize the burrow's microclimate, with some chambers lined with stones that appear to serve as bedding.

References

1. Molur, S. (2016). "Mus platythrix". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016 e.T13978A22406681. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13978A22406681.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.

• Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1406. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.