Country mouse
The country mouse (Pseudomys patrius) also known as the pebble-mound mouse [2] or eastern pebble mound mouse [3] is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It lives only in Australia, where it is considered rare. It was described by Thomas and Dollman in 1909.[3]
| Country mouse | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Pseudomys |
| Species: | P. patrius |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudomys patrius | |
Like other pebble-mound mice, it is known for building shallow burrows with mounds of pebbles surrounding the entrances. This function is understood to be protective and collects dew. In Queensland the observed mounds in coastal areas are smaller than in drier habitats, reflecting the need to collect more of the scarcer water.[2] The mouse lines the tunnel walls with pebbles for insulation and protection. It plugs smaller openings to the burrow system with a pebble, camouflaging the entrance, and unplugs it to exit in times of danger.[2]
References
- 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.
- Burnett, S.; Aplin, K. (2008). "Pseudomys patrius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- Dyke, S. V. (1997). "Queensland Pebble-Mound Mice ... Up from the tailings". Australian Nature Magazine. 25/10: 40–47.
- AUSTRALIANFAUNA.COM 1909 Eastern Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys patrius) Archived 2016-04-15 at the Wayback Machine