9.

Mullah Spiny Mouse

Acomys mullah

French: Acomys mollah / German: Mullah-Stachelmaus / Spanish: Raton espinoso mula

Taxonomy. Acomys mullah Thomas, 1904,

“Harar,” Ethiopia.

Acomys mullah was initially considered a member of the A. cahirinus — dimidiatus species complex, and pending a taxonomic revision. Monotypic.

Distribution. Horn of Africa (S Eritrea, Djibouti, E Ethiopia, and N Somalia).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 106-134 mm, tail 95-117 mm, ear 14-18 mm, hindfoot 15-18 mm. Nospecific data are available for body weight. The Mullah Spiny Mouse is medium-sized, with tail about the same length as head-body. Dorsum is grayish, with long spiny hairs on all ofit. Flanks are brownish, and belly is white. Females have two pairs of mammae.

Habitat. Dry open savannas up to elevations of ¢.1000 m, but mostly below 100 m and even below sea level. Mullah Spiny Mice have been trapped in rocks and on stony ground among crops and bush.

Food and Feeding. The Mullah Spiny Mouse is insectivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Mullah Spiny Mouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Denys et al. (1994), Dieterlen (2013f), Ellerman (1941), Monadjem et al. (2015), Musser & Carleton (2005), Petter (1983).