12.

Gray Spiny Mouse

Acomys cineraceus

French: Acomys cendré / German: Graue Stachelmaus / Spanish: Raton espinoso gris

Other common names: Heuglin's Spiny Mouse

Taxonomy. Acomys cineraceus Heuglin, 1867,

Doka, Sudan. Restricted by G. M. Al-lenin 1939 to “Eastern Sennaar and about Kalabat.”

Acomys cineraceus is often included in A. cahirinus, but it has been revised and found to be restricted to Sudan, South Sudan, and western Ethiopia. Five previously described species in the same region were synonymized (A. hawashensis, A. hystrella, A. intermedius, A. lowei, and A. whitherbyi), but taxonomy requires further revision. No subspecies are recognized here, but geographical variation between three distinct populations has been described. Northern specimens are slightly distinct from those of the south. Monotypic.

Distribution. Sudan, South Sudan, and W Ethiopia; it may also occur in Djibouti.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 89-116 mm, tail 72-121 mm, ear 13-18 mm, hindfoot 13-19 mm; weight 26-61 g. The Gray Spiny Mouse is medium-sized compared with other species of Acomys . Tail is slightly smaller or equal to head-body length. Dorsal color is variable, typically grayish cinnamon, with spiny hairs present from shoulders to rump. Belly is pure white. Females have three pairs of mammae. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 48-50 and FN = 58-59.

Habitat. Woodland savanna or “djebels” (rocky hills) at elevations below 500 m. Gray Spiny Mice shelter in crevices or under boulders for resting and to avoid heat. They are rupicolous and can be found in houses or fields.

Food and Feeding. The Gray Spiny Mouse probably eats plants, snails, insects,spiders, and scorpions.

Breeding. Gestation probably lasts 30-35 days. Mean litter size is 2:5 young (range 1-5). Eyes of young are open at birth, and sexual maturity is reached ¢.2 months old at weights of ¢.30 g. Reproduction is seasonal in Sudan and occurs probably only once a year,after the wet season, with apeak of pregnant females and young in November— December. In South Sudan, there may be two breeding seasons per year, and most juveniles are seen at the end of the wet season.

Activity patterns. The Gray Spiny Mouse is generally nocturnal, with some crepuscular activity.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Gray Spiny Mouse does not seem to be affected by human activities throughoutits distribution.

Bibliography. Allen (1939), Dieterlen (2013f), Happold (1966a, 1969), Kunze et al. (1999).