<Unknown Taxon>

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Muridae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 536-884 : 722-723

333.

Central Short-tailed Mouse

Leggadina forresti

French: Rat de Forrest / German: Zentrale Australien-Zwergmaus / Spanish: Raton de cola corta de Australia central

Other common names: Desert Short-tailed Mouse, Forrest's Leggadina, Forrest's Mouse, Forrest's Short-tailed Mouse

Taxonomy. Mus forresti Thomas, 1906,

Alexandria Station, Northern Territory,

Australia.

Leggadina is sister to a paraphyletic clade

that includes Pseudomys, Mastacomys, and

Notomys. L. forresti was recognized as a species within Pseudomys by H.A. Longman in 1916, within Leggadina by T. Iredale and E. L. G. Troughton in 1934, transferred back to Pseudomys by W. D. L. Ride in 1970, and finally returned to Leggadina by J. A. Mahoney and B. J. Richardson in 1988 and kept there by all subsequent authors. Named forms Pseudomys (Leggadina) messorius, Pseudomys (Leggadina) waitei, and Gyomys berneyi were synonymized within forrest: by Ride in 1970 and by all authors since then. Monotypic.

Distribution. Widespread in low-rainfall areas in C Australia, including C & S Northern Territory, inland Queensland, extreme WC Western Australia, N South Australia, and NW New South Wales.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 70-100 mm, tail 50-70 mm, ear 12-15 mm, hindfoot 15-19 mm; weight 13-30 g. The Central Short-tailed Mouse is a small species of native mouse with short, smooth fur. Dorsal pelage ranges from gray to light yellow brown penciled with darker black guard hairs throughout, giving it a grizzled appearance. There are small patches of white behind the ear and guard hairs seem to be more prominent along the back, rump and shoulders and the head is relatively dark while the sides are lighter. Ventral pelage is white and sharply demarcated from the dorsum. Ears are small, rounded and a pinkish brown. Feet are white and small with elongated hindfeet. Tail is less than ¢.70% of head-body length, lightly covered in short hairs, and bicolored, being gray above and a significantly paler gray below. Skull is flat on top with a short rostrum, being distinguished from the Norther Short-tailed Mouse

(L. lakedownensis) by havingincisive foramen that narrow posteriorly, smaller M3, and more backward pointing upper incisors. Females have two pairs of inguinal mammae. Chromosomal complement is 2n = 48; FN = 52.

Habitat. The Central Short-tailed Mouse is found in a broad range of habitats, particularly tussock grasslands and chenopod shrublands, and less characteristically inhummock grasslands and open woodlands. It occurs mostly on clay, loam, and stony soils.

Food and Feeding. This Central Short-tailed Mouse is omnivorous; it mostly eats seeds, but diet also includes leaf and stem material and invertebrates.

Breeding. Breeding may occur throughout the year, and may be triggered by rainfall events. Usual litter size is 3—4.

Activity patterns. Central Short-tailed Mice are terrestrial and nocturnal. They shelter during the day in shallow burrows (to 40 cm long), containing nests mostly of grass.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Central Short-tailed Mice are typically solitary, but limited information exists on territoriality and social systems. Populations may fluctuate in response to highor low-rainfall periods, but notto the extreme “boom-bust” extent that many other Australian desert rodents do. Individuals have been reported as moving more than 1 km in a night, and low recapture of marked individuals suggests some nomadic movements.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Feral cats prey selectively on this species,taking it at a disproportionately high rate relative to its abundance.

Bibliography. Baverstock et al. (1977), Breed & Ford (2007), Iredale & Troughton (1934), Jackson & Groves (2015), Longman (1916), Mahoney & Richardson (1988), Philpott & Smyth (1967), Read (1984), Ride (1970), Spencer et al. (2014), Van Dyck & Strahan (2008), Watts & Aslin (1981).

334.

Northern Short-tailed Mouse

Leggadina lakedownensis

French: Rat de Lakeland / German: Nordliche Australien-Zwergmaus / Spanish: Raton de cola corta de Australia

septentrional

Other common names: Lakeland Downs Leggadina, Lakeland Downs Mouse, Lakeland Downs Short-tailed Mouse,

Thevenard Island Mouse, Tropical Short-tailed Mouse

Taxonomy. Leggadina lakedownensis Watts, 1976, 110 km north of Cooktown, Lakeland Downs, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. Leggadina lakedownensis exhibits some marked morphological and genetic variation across range, most notably with Thevenard Island population atypically large in most morphological characteristics and with some genetic differentiation as shown by D. Moro and colleagues in 1998, although N. K. Cooper and coworkers in 2003 considered these not sufficient to merit subspecific status. L. lakedownensis is largely allopatric with regard to its sole congener, L. forresti. Monotypic.

Distribution. Extensive, but sparse and discontinuous, distribution in monsoonal N Australian mainland, extending S to the Pilbara region; present also on Thevenard I, oft NW Western Australia. Translocated to nearby Serrurier I.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 50-92 mm, tail 40-80 mm, ear 11-13 mm, hindfoot 14-17 mm; weight 15-30 g. The Northern Short-tailed Mouse is a small species of native mouse with anarrow, pointed head and a broad, blunt muzzle like in the Central Short-tailed Mouse (L. forresti). Dorsal pelage is brindled gray to grayish brown that gradually blends into the ventral pelage. Hairs on dorsum have a blackish brown base and are tipped with buffy brown on the top of the back, grading to olive-buff tipped hairs on the side. Ventral pelage is pure white. Occasionally, there is a slight dark line in between the ears on the head and a lighter ring around the eyes. Ears are small and rounded, being a light pinkish gray. Vibrissae are relatively short and light in color. Feet are small and white; hindfeet are elongated. Tail is shorter (¢.80%) than head-body length, lightly furred, and distinctly bicolored, being grayish brown dorsally and a significantly lighter gray ventrally. Skull hasa flat top and short rostrum, being distinguished from the Central Short-tailed Mouse byits wider incisive foramina posteriorly, slightly large M3, and forward pointing upper incisors. Females have two pairs of inguinal mammae. Chromosomal complementis 2n = 48, FN = 50.

Habitat. Occurs in a broad range of habitats, mostly tussock grasslands and woodlands, but also hummock grasslands and open forests, typically with a dense grass cover, mostly on heavy (clay and sandy clay) soils, and often in areas subject to seasonal inundation.

Food and Feeding. Northern Short-tailed Mice are omnivorous, with diet comprising seeds, green vegetation, and invertebrates.

Breeding. On Thevenard Island breeding is seasonal, with reproduction mostly April-October;littersize is 1-4, with gestation period c¢.30 days.

Activity patterns. Terrestrial and nocturnal. Northern Short-tailed Mice shelter during day in simple burrows, often containing nests lined with dry grass.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Northern Short-tailed Mice are typically solitary, but limited information on territoriality and social systems other than from intensive study of a possibly atypical island population. On Thevenard Island, home range was 5 ha, individuals travelled up to 600 m in a single night and used multiple burrows; population density varied from 0-1 ind/ha to 6 ind/ha over a 2-5year study period. Populations may also fluctuate markedly in at least some mainland areas.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List, not listed as threatened under Australian legislation. This species’ range remains extensive. Abundance is low in areas heavily grazed by livestock, and increases with livestock removal; predation by feral cats is a reported threat. Subfossil record indicates a substantial decline in abundance in at least some areas overthe last ¢.200 years; and declines have also been reported from somesites over recent decades.

Bibliography. Breed & Ford (2007), Cole & Woinarski (2002), Cooper, Adams et al. (2003), Gibson & McKenzie (2009), Kutt & Kemp (2005), Legge et al. (2011), Moro & Bradshaw (2002), Moro & Morris (2000a, 2000b), Moro et al. (1998), Start, Burbidge, McDowell & McKenzie (2012), Start, Burbidge, McKenzie & Palmer (2007), Van Dyck & Strahan (2008), Watts (1976), Watts & Aslin (1981), Woinarski, Armstrong et al. (2010), Woinarski, Braithwaite etal. (1992).

334.

Northern Short-tailed Mouse

Leggadina lakedownensis

French: Rat de Lakeland / German: Nordliche Australien-Zwergmaus / Spanish: Raton de cola corta de Australia

septentrional

Other common names: Lakeland Downs Leggadina, Lakeland Downs Mouse, Lakeland Downs Short-tailed Mouse,

Thevenard Island Mouse, Tropical Short-tailed Mouse

Taxonomy. Leggadina lakedownensis Watts, 1976, 110 km north of Cooktown, Lakeland Downs, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. Leggadina lakedownensis exhibits some marked morphological and genetic variation across range, most notably with Thevenard Island population atypically large in most morphological characteristics and with some genetic differentiation as shown by D. Moro and colleagues in 1998, although N. K. Cooper and coworkers in 2003 considered these not sufficient to merit subspecific status. L. lakedownensis is largely allopatric with regard to its sole congener, L. forresti. Monotypic.

Distribution. Extensive, but sparse and discontinuous, distribution in monsoonal N Australian mainland, extending S to the Pilbara region; present also on Thevenard I, oft NW Western Australia. Translocated to nearby Serrurier I.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 50-92 mm, tail 40-80 mm, ear 11-13 mm, hindfoot 14-17 mm; weight 15-30 g. The Northern Short-tailed Mouse is a small species of native mouse with anarrow, pointed head and a broad, blunt muzzle like in the Central Short-tailed Mouse (L. forresti). Dorsal pelage is brindled gray to grayish brown that gradually blends into the ventral pelage. Hairs on dorsum have a blackish brown base and are tipped with buffy brown on the top of the back, grading to olive-buff tipped hairs on the side. Ventral pelage is pure white. Occasionally, there is a slight dark line in between the ears on the head and a lighter ring around the eyes. Ears are small and rounded, being a light pinkish gray. Vibrissae are relatively short and light in color. Feet are small and white; hindfeet are elongated. Tail is shorter (¢.80%) than head-body length, lightly furred, and distinctly bicolored, being grayish brown dorsally and a significantly lighter gray ventrally. Skull hasa flat top and short rostrum, being distinguished from the Central Short-tailed Mouse byits wider incisive foramina posteriorly, slightly large M3, and forward pointing upper incisors. Females have two pairs of inguinal mammae. Chromosomal complementis 2n = 48, FN = 50.

Habitat. Occurs in a broad range of habitats, mostly tussock grasslands and woodlands, but also hummock grasslands and open forests, typically with a dense grass cover, mostly on heavy (clay and sandy clay) soils, and often in areas subject to seasonal inundation.

Food and Feeding. Northern Short-tailed Mice are omnivorous, with diet comprising seeds, green vegetation, and invertebrates.

Breeding. On Thevenard Island breeding is seasonal, with reproduction mostly April-October;littersize is 1-4, with gestation period c¢.30 days.

Activity patterns. Terrestrial and nocturnal. Northern Short-tailed Mice shelter during day in simple burrows, often containing nests lined with dry grass.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Northern Short-tailed Mice are typically solitary, but limited information on territoriality and social systems other than from intensive study of a possibly atypical island population. On Thevenard Island, home range was 5 ha, individuals travelled up to 600 m in a single night and used multiple burrows; population density varied from 0-1 ind/ha to 6 ind/ha over a 2-5year study period. Populations may also fluctuate markedly in at least some mainland areas.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List, not listed as threatened under Australian legislation. This species’ range remains extensive. Abundance is low in areas heavily grazed by livestock, and increases with livestock removal; predation by feral cats is a reported threat. Subfossil record indicates a substantial decline in abundance in at least some areas overthe last ¢.200 years; and declines have also been reported from somesites over recent decades.

Bibliography. Breed & Ford (2007), Cole & Woinarski (2002), Cooper, Adams et al. (2003), Gibson & McKenzie (2009), Kutt & Kemp (2005), Legge et al. (2011), Moro & Bradshaw (2002), Moro & Morris (2000a, 2000b), Moro et al. (1998), Start, Burbidge, McDowell & McKenzie (2012), Start, Burbidge, McKenzie & Palmer (2007), Van Dyck & Strahan (2008), Watts (1976), Watts & Aslin (1981), Woinarski, Armstrong et al. (2010), Woinarski, Braithwaite etal. (1992).