Cape spiny mouse
Species of rodent endemic to South Africa

Cape spiny mouse
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Acomys
Species:
A. subspinosus
Binomial name
Acomys subspinosus
(Waterhouse, 1838)
  Extant (resident)

The Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus) 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).

Range

This species is largely endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa; its range just extends into the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces. The extent of occurrence is greater than 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi), and can occur up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level.

Habitat

Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation and rocky areas. They are terrestrial and nocturnal, but can be active in early morning and late afternoon in shadows cast by rocks.

Behaviour

Cape spiny mice may live singly or in small groups. They feed almost exclusively on seeds, especially ant dispersed seeds of Restionaceae and Proteaceae with elaiosomes. The remainder of the diet consists of green plant material and insects, millipedes, and snails. In addition, the cape spiny mouse feed extensively on Protea humiflora flower.

Breeding

Rather than having one set breeding season, cape spiny mice are opportunistic breeders, only reproducing when they have sufficient food sources.[2] They produce litters of 2-5 pups.

Value

The cape spiny mouse contributes significantly to the pollination of Protea humiflora, and in turn gains the food resources that enable winter breeding. It is also the primary pollinator of Erica hanekomii, a low-growing, mat-forming plant with pendulous flowerheads, containing significant amounts of sugar-rich nectar.[3] In addition to being a potential pollinator for further fynbos plant species, it also has a role in seed predation and hoarding in the fynbos, potentially contributing to the evolution of myrmecochory as a mechanism to evade rodent seed predation.

References

  1. ^ Palmer, G.; Midgley, J.; Pence, G.; Avery, M. (2017). "Acomys subspinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T275A110016981. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T275A110016981.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Fleming, P. A., and S. W. Nicolson. "Opportunistic breeding in the Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus)." African Zoology 37.1 (2002): 101-105.
  3. ^ Turner, R. C.; Midgley, J. J.; Johnson, S. D. (2011). "Evidence for rodent pollination in Erica hanekomii (Ericaceae)". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 166 (2): 163–170. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2011.01139.x.

Further reading

  • Chris Stuart, T. S. (Ed.). (1988). A Field Guide to Mammals of South Africa (3rd ed.). Cape Town: New England Publishing.
  • "African spiny mouse." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/560260/African-spiny-mouse>.
  • 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. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  • Nel J.A.J., Rautenbach I.L. & Breytenbach G.J. 1980. Mammals of the Kammanassie Mountains, southern Cape Province. South African Journal of Zoology 15: 255–261.
  • Breytenbach G.J. 1982. Small mammal responses to environmental gradients in the Great Swartberg of the southern Cape.MScthesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Bond W., Ferguson M. & Forsyth G. 1980. Small mammals and habitat structure along altitudinal gradients in the southern Cape mountains. South African Journal of Zoology 15: 34–43.
  • Wiens, Delbert; Rourke, John P.; Casper, Brenda B.; Rickart, Eric A.; LaPine, T.R.; Peterson, J.; Channing, A: Nonflying Mammal Pollination of Southern African Proteas. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol 70, number 1, 1983
  • Bond W.J. & Breytenbach G.J. 1985. Ants, rodents and seed predation in Proteaceae. South African Journal of Zoology 20: 150–154
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