557.

Flat-haired Mouse

Mus platythrix

French: Souris a poil plat / German: Flachkopf-Stachelzwergmaus / Spanish: Raton de pelaje plano

Other common names: Brown Spiny Mouse

Taxonomy. Mus platythrix Bennett, 1832,

Deccan, India.

Placed in subgenus Pyromys, where it is sister to M. saxicola . In the latest molecular phylogeny M. platythrix is found basal to the subgenus Mus . May be a complex of species, in view of the cytogenetic variation from 2n = 26 to 2n = 30 observed between north and south India. Taxonomy requires further investigation.

Distribution. Endemic to India up to 2000 m.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 77-123 mm,tail 51-81 mm, hindfoot 17-22 mm; weight 18 g. This medium-sized mouse has spiny fur that is dark brown dorsally and white to grayish white on the belly. The bicolored tail is shorter than the head-body length (under 80%). Hindfeet with dark stripe. Females bear five mammae. Karyotype is 2n = 26-30.

Habitat. Uncultivated hilly country in sandy, rocky, and gravelly habitats. Also found in cultivated fields.

Food and Feeding. The Flat-haired Mouse is omnivorous.

Breeding. Females recorded as breeding from May to February. Litter size is 2-9, and a female is able to have up to 18 young per year.

Activity patterns. Flat-haired Mice are terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Agrawal (2000), Chevret et al. (2003), Corbet & Hill (1992), Marshall (1977a), Suzuki & Aplin (2012).