552.

Desert Pygmy Mouse

Mus indutus

French: Souris du désert / German: \Wisten-Zwergmaus / Spanish: Ratén pigmeo de desierto

Taxonomy. Leggada bella induta Thomas, 1910,

“Molopo [River], W. of Morokwen, Northern [British] Bechuanaland [= Northern Cape Province],” South Africa.

Previously subdivided into 2—4 subspecies; but in 2015 A. Monadjem and colleagues recognized none, particularly in view of the difficulties in distinguishing this species from M.minutoides in some parts of its range. Monotypic.

Distribution. Botswana and N South Africa; range may extend into S Angola, SW Zambia, S Malawi, Namibia, W Zimbabwe, and S South Africa; range limits not resolved.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 45-65 mm, tail 30-52 mm, ear 8-12 mm, hindfoot 13-16 mm; weight 3-8 g. Very small mouse with relatively long tail for Mus . Furis soft, pale buff to pale buffy-orange above and on flanks, with black-tipped hairs in the dorsal fur but not on the flanks, and pure white below, including chin. Tail is relatively long (c.80% of head-body length), pale buff above and white below. Ears are moderately large, rounded and brown, with postauricular white spots present in western but not eastern populations. Females have four pairs of nipples.

Habitat. The Desert Pygmy Mouse occupies a wide range of habitats within semiarid savannas.

Food and Feeding. Diet comprises mostly grass seeds, pods of Acacia trees, and insects.

Breeding. Reproduction occurs throughout the year in Botswana, with a peak in the wet season, from October to April. Litter size 2-8.

Activity patterns. The Desert Pygmy Mouse is terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Desert Pygmy Mice excavate their own burrows or use those of other species. Spherical grass nests are constructed underground, where the young are born. The species is highly aggressive toward conspecifics, and cannibalism has been reported in captivity.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Happold (2013a), Lamb et al. (2014), Monadjem etal. (2015), Nel (1978), Smithers (1971).