17.

Muze Spiny Mouse

Acomys muzei

French: Acomys de Muze / German: Muze-Stachelmaus / Spanish: Raton espinoso oriental

Other common names: Eastern Arc Spiny Mouse

Taxonomy. Acomys muzei W. N. Verheyen et al., 2011,

“Muze, Tanzania.”

Acomys muzer was recently described molecularly and morphometrically and was sorted from the A. spinosissimus species complex. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from Tanzania, recorded from Lake Victoria S to hills close to Lake Rukwa and W Eastern Arc Mts.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 75-97 mm, tail 79-103 mm, ear 12-15 mm, hindfoot 15-17 mm; weight 14-24 g. The Muze Spiny Mouse has the same external morphological characteristics as the Southern African Spiny Mouse ( A. spinosissimus) and can only be distinguished with detailed morphometric or molecular analysis. Tail length is equal to head-body length. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 58-62 and FN = 68-76.

Habitat. Woodlands and wooded grasslands, dry miombo ( Brachystegia, Fabaceae) woodland with open canopy, and close to wetlands dominated by acacia ( Acacia . Fabaceae), elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Poaceae), Typha (Typhaceae), and Cyperus (Cyperaceae) . Associated areas, perhaps occupied by the Muze Spiny Mice, are also used for maize and paddy farming.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not yet assessed on The IUCN Red List. The Muze Spiny Mouse seems to have a relatively large distribution and can be found in numerous protected areas.

Bibliography. Verheyen et al. (2011).