townsend 's vole ( microtus townsendii ) is a species of rodent in the family cricetidae , the sister species of m. canicaudus .

it is found in temperate grasslands of british columbia in canada and in the states of washington and oregon in the united states .

greek root words for " small ear " are the source for the genus name microtus .

american naturalist and writer john kirk townsend collected the type specimen in 1835 , which accounts for the second part of the name .

townsend ' s vole

townsend ' s vole <EOT> townsend ' s vole - julia butler hansen - u . s . fish and wildlife service

no critical habitat rules have been published for the shaw island townsend ' s vole .

( townsend’s vole ) . in : an atlas of mammalian chromosomes . springer , new york , ny

range the townsend’s vole is found in ( but not necessarily limited to ) canada . southeastern british columbia and vancouver island south to northwest california .

reproduction the townsend’s vole has a high reproductive rate . it is capable of breeding at 3 weeks of age , and can produce up to 13 litters of four to eight young a year .

the townsend’s vole is a rodent known to thrive throughout wetlands and grassland meadows . though considered one of the largest vole species around , adults typically weigh between 47 and 82 . 5 grams , and extend to a maximum length of 24 centimeters ( 9 inches ) .

thomas , w . k . , and a . t . beckenbach . 1986 . mitochondrial dna restriction site variation in the townsend ' s vole , microtus townsendii . can . j . zool . 64 : 2750 - 2756 .

a study by drever et al . ( 2010 ) on rodent predation of seabird eggs found that townsend ' s voles feed exclusively on terrestrial plants .

the townsend’s vole has a single pair of incisors in each jaw . these teeth will grow continually throughout its life . it has a high rate of reproduction , and this is one key factor in attributing to the success of this species .

look for evidence of vole pathways along wetland edges and grassy fields throughout the refuge .

townsend’s voles can be found as far north as triangle island ( a small island north of vancouver island ) , east to chilliwack , and south to northern california .

identification & description : the townsend’s vole is from the order rodentia . the largest group of mammals is the rodentia . a rough generalisation is most non - flying mammals are rodents . prairie dogs , beavers , porcupines and many others are classified as rodents .

generations of voles will use the same pathways , sometimes creating 2 inch deep vole trails .

hedgerows , grassland set - asides , and old fields are prime habitats for townsend’s voles and they are up to eight times more abundant in grassland set - asides than in forage fields .

highly significant to a multitude of predators , including herons , owls , and other birds of prey ; and raccoons , skunks , weasels , mink , coyotes , bobcats , and red and gray foxes . snakes , too , feed on these voles . densities as high as 800 voles per hectare have been recorded , and when densities exceed 100 , townsend ' s vole may exclude other small rodents from its range through competition . townsend ' s vole has dark - brownish fur and ears large enough to project above the fur . the ears are small by most standards but large for the

one tell - tale sign that a townsend’s vole is in the area is the presence of tunnels through vegetation along the ground ; these runways are often used throughout many generations of voles and can extend down to five centimeters deep . they spend a great deal of time in their underground burrows where they create an extensive system of traveling , feeding , and nesting corridors overlapping one another .

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the townsend’s vole is one of the largest voles in north america , and it is also very abundant where it occurs . it has dark brownish fur and ears large enough to stick out above its fur . dark brown above , gray below ; feet dusky ; large ears . total length : 15 - 25 cm ; tail : 5 - 8 cm ; mass : 40 - 100 g .

luckily , their presence attracts many local predators which are drawn to the voles’ activity both day and night , including some threatened species such as the short - eared owl and the barn owl . other species for which the townsend’s vole is of significant importance include snowy owls , northern harriers , rough - legged hawks , and many other raptors , as well as great blue herons , american bitterns , and coyotes .

ecology townsend’s vole may be active day or night . their habitat is marshes , wet meadows and riparian woodlands . when numbers are high they may exclude other rodents from its range through competition . their diet includes velvet grass and other grasses , horsetail , alfalfa , clover , rushes , sedges , purple - eyed grass , and buttercups . when green food is still available in winter , the townsend . s vole often stores and eats bulbs at that time . a good swimmer , this vole often constructs the entrances to its burrow system underwater . in summer and winter its nests are constructed of grass . in summer , the nest is placed inside a rounded knoll above water level . in winter , it is placed on dry ground away from water , which might freeze and prevent access . they use runways most of the year except when vegetation in summer is thick enough to completely conceal their bodies and they can move about at will under the cover of the vegetation .

their burrowing habits also assist in increasing soil aeration . despite what many may think , townsend’s voles are impressive swimmers and they will often readily dive into water . in fact , to better escape some predators , they will often make the entrance to their summer burrows underwater .

their capability to reproduce every few weeks between april to october each year , as well as their large litter size of up to nine young per female , make townsend’s voles prime candidates for “pest” status on agricultural land . feeding on the roots of grasses , sedges , and other soft - stemmed plants , as well as fallen seeds and leaves , these voles can chew away quickly at a farmer’s crop .

townsend ' s vole occurs on the pacific coast from northern california to british columbia , but this unusually large subspecies is known only from triangle island ( area 1 . 07 sqare km ) just off the nothern tip of vancouver island . it lives in moist grassy areas , salt and freshwater marshes . the island is protected as an ecological reserve . the introduction of predatory species ( e . g . rats , mink ) are the primary threat . its small population and distribution exacerbate its vulnerability to all threats .

what’s good for columbian white - tailed deer is great for salamanders ! the swampy woodlands , marshes and ponds scattered throughout the refuge are a haven for amphibians .

oxford university press is a department of the university of oxford . it furthers the university ' s objective of excellence in research , scholarship , and education by publishing worldwide

douglass , r . j . 1977 . population dynamics , home ranges , and habitat associations of the yellow - cheeked vole , microtus xanthognathus , in the northwest territories . canadian field - naturalist 91 : 237 - 47 .

threatened due to competition with the keen ' s mouse ( peromyscus keeni ) or the potential introduction of a mammalian predator such as mink ( mustela vison ) or rat ( rattus sp ) .

the present access restrictions on the ecological reserve should be maintained . ensure that no rats or predators are introduced to triangle island . the interactions of this vole with its abundant seabird cohabitants would make an interesting and useful study to aid in future management questions .

note : all species and ecological community data presented in natureserve explorer at urltoken were updated to be current with natureserve ' s central databases as of november 2016 . note : this report was printed on

this is not a range map . this species is known to occur somewhere in the shaded regional district ( s ) . the actual range of the species within each regional district may be much smaller .

found mostly in lowlands , sea level to 1000 feet , west of the cascades in salt water and fresh water marshes , wet meadows , and in dense herbaceous and hardwood riparian vegetation . not found in coniferous forest or dry brush . invades clear - cuts and coniferous tree farms ( where it eats seedlings ) when these are near marshes or wet meadows . occasionally found higher in the olympics , occurs in the absence of richardson ' s vole , as high as alpine meadows at 5000 to 6000 feet .

this large , dark brown vole is abundant in moist fields and sedge meadows . its compact body can be as long as 6 inches . it has a short tail , only between 2 and 3 inches in length , compared to its mouse cousins . voles have black protruding eyes , and large , rounded , visible ears .

there are multiple species of voles , also known as field mice , present in the fraser valley . the most common species are microtus townsendii ( townsend’s vole ) and m . longicaudus and m . oregonii . voles are distinctly different from the more familiar house mice . voles have much shorter tails , smaller eyes and ears , and a more rounded snout . voles live in underground nests , but are also active above ground . they generally create runways along the above ground vegetation . voles are active all year round . voles can also be active during both the day and night . there are multiple generations per calendar year with breeding taking place between february and october . due to the relatively large litter size ( 3 - 7 young / litter ) and the short gestation period ( 21 - 23 days ) , voles are very prolific . populations in an area tend to fluctuate in cycles with peak population levels every 2 - 5 years .

bowman , j . c . , m . edwards , l . s . sheppard , and g . j . forbes . 1999 . record distance for a non - homing movement by a deer mouse , peromyscus maniculatus . canadian field - naturalist 113 : 292 - 293 .

castleberry , s . , b . , t . l . king , p . b . wood , and w . m . ford . 2002 . microsatellite dna analysis of population structure in allegheny woodrats ( neotoma magister ) . journal of mammalogy 83 : 1058 - 1070 .

recent research has shown that the number of tunnel exits seen on the soil surface is a poor indicator of the extent of the underground tunnel network . the underground network can be much larger than it appears on the surface . the amount of damage done by voles can vary widely between years . thus it is important to always be on the lookout for recent vole activity ( new tunnels and exits ) , in order to help make management decisions .

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ridgely , r . s . , t . f . allnutt , t . brooks , d . k . mcnicol , d . w . mehlman , b . e . young , and j . r . zook . 2003 . digital distribution maps of the birds of the western hemisphere , version 1 . 0 . natureserve , arlington , virginia , usa .

jones , j . k . , jr . , r . s . hoffman , d . w . rice , c . jones , r . j . baker , and m . d . engstrom . 1992a . revised checklist of north american mammals north of mexico , 1991 . occasional papers , the museum , texas tech university , 146 : 1 - 23 .

the key to reducing damage is habitat reduction through vegetation management . voles prefer habitat with good groundcover for their feeding and nest areas . keep the vegetation around the field edges and along the row middles properly managed through regular mowing or chemical means . eliminating these sites helps keep voles out of the field area and reduces their population numbers . this should be the main method employed by the farmer to control vole populations . since vole populations can fluctuate wildly from year to year , sometimes rodenticide use is necessary . placing the rodenticide bait in areas of high activity ( e . g . in field sections with a lot of damage or tunnels ) can significantly increase their effectiveness . remember that any insecticide bait must be placed in a tamper - resistant bait station to avoid accidental exposure to children , pets or other non - target animals . when using rodenticides it is a good idea to rotate the active ingredient ( or chemical class ) every time to reduce any effects of bait shyness .

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nagorsen , d . 1998 . mammals . in b . c . minist . environ . , lands and parks , resour . inventory branch . 1998 . the vertebrates of british columbia : scientific and english names . standards for components of british columbia ' s biodiversity , no . 2 . version . 2 . 0 . resour . inventory comm . victoria , bc . 119pp .

tonwsend’s voles eat tender marsh and grassland vegetation , and in turn are a rich food source for other refuge wildlife , including owls , coyotes , bobcats and weasels . as with most rodents , voles are productive breeders and can have many broods each year . each litter of young is born and raised in a grassy nest found below or above ground . populations periodically grow and crash ; the cause of this trend is unknown .

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microtus townsendii - inset shows foot tubercle pattern click to enlarge this image . ( 94 kb )

bachman , j . , 1839 . description of several new species of american quadrupeds , p . 60 . journal of the academy of natural sciences of philadelphia , part 1 , 8 : 57 - 74 .

mammal species of the world ( opens in a new window ) . mammalian species , american society of mammalogists ' species account ( opens in a new window ) .

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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .

justification : listed as least concern because it has a very wide range , there are no major threats , it can be very common , and its population is not thought to be in decline .

this species ranges from triangle island , british columbia in canada , south to humbolt bay , california in the united states ; east in british columbia to chilliwack ; in washington to sauk , nisqually flats , and clark county ; in oregon to salem , eugene , and prospect . it occurs from sea level to about 1 , 830 m asl in olympic mountains , to about 915 m asl in cascades , oregon .

densities as high as 800 per hectare have been recorded , but populations fluctuate widely .

it occupies a variety of habitats , but typically occurs in salt and fresh marshes , moist meadows ( sometimes dry grass ) , wetlands along streams ; alpine and subalpine meadows . constructs extensive underground burrow systems and runways through grass . burrow entrance may be underwater . nests may be on or below soil surface . the length of breeding season depends on stage in multiannual abundance cycle . gestation lasts 21 - 24 days . litter size averages 4 - 7 in different areas . in captivity , young are weaned at 15 - 17 days , first estrus at 35 - 80 days ( cornely and verts 1988 ) . diet includes various kinds of green vegetation ; grasses , sedges , and forbs , mint bulbs .

this species is not of conservation concern and its range includes several protected areas .

this errata assessment has been created because the map was accidentally left out of the version published previously .

( errata version published in 2017 ) . the iucn red list of threatened species 2016 : e . t13487a115114983 .

to make use of this information , please check the < terms of use > .

their fur is dark brown in colour and often tipped with black , while their bellies are dull grey , and they have medium sized ears .

breeding breeds from early spring through late summer or early fall ; several litters of 1–9 young each ; gestation 21–24 days .

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wilson , d . e . , and d . m . reeder ( editors ) . 1993 . mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference . second edition . smithsonian institution press , washington , dc . xviii + 1206 pp . available online at : urltoken

eats various kinds of green vegetation ; grasses , sedges , and forbs , mint ( mentha ) bulbs .

triangle island , british columbia , south to humbolt bay , california ; east in british columbia to chilliwack ; in washington to sauk , nisqually flats , and clark county ; in oregon to salem , eugene , and prospect . sea level to about 1830 m in olympic mountains , to about 915 m in cascades , oregon .

banfield , a . w . f . 1974 . the mammals of canada . university of toronto press , toronto , canada . 438 pp .

conroy , c . j . , and j . a . cook . 2000 . molecular systematics of a holarctic rodent ( microtus : muridae ) . journal of mammalogy 81 : 344 - 359 .

hall , e . r . 1981a . the mammals of north america , second edition . vols . i & ii . john wiley & sons , new york , new york . 1181 pp .

ingles , l . g . 1965 . mammals of the pacific states . stanford university press , stanford , california .

moore , d . w . , and l . l . janecek . 1990 . genic relationships among north american microtus ( mammalia : rodentia ) . ann . carnegie mus . 59 : 249 - 259 .

plante , y . , p . t . boag , and b . n . white . 1989 . macrogeographic variation in mitochondrial dna of meadow voles ( microtus pennsylvanicus ) . can . j . zool . 67 : 158 - 167 .

tamarin , r . h . , editor . 1985 . biology of new world microtus . american soc . mamm . special publication ( 8 ) : 1 - 893 .

b . c . conservation data centre . 1993 . species summary : microtus townsendii . b . c . minist . of environment . available : urltoken ( accessed jul 9 , 2018 ) .

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breeding range map the green area shows the predicted habitats for breeding only . the habitats were identified using 1991 satellite imagery , other datasets and experts throughout the state , as part of the washington gap analysis project .

core zones were the low and mid - elevation forest zones of the west side of the state , where water / wetlands and other moist areas were good habitat . in the olympics , mountain hemlock , sub - alpine fir , and alpine / parkland were also core zones .

pest profile is a recurring feature in this magazine . periodically we pick an agricultural pest to feature and learn more about its biology and control methods .

the damage caused by voles is both direct and indirect . voles will chew directly on the roots and crowns of plants causing direct plant decline . voles are present in many crops , but are particularly damaging in highbush blueberries . indirect damage can be caused by the voles tunneling behaviour . these tunnels often run right through the root zone of the plant . these roots are exposed directly to air , causing them to dry out , or to excessive water , causing the roots to drown . indirect damage is also caused by the open wounds being exposed to disease - causing organisms such as root - rotting fungi .

in my own personal experience , the decline of the plant is usually slow . the root damage done by voles is not easily detected within the first year and is often missed . in that first year after the damage the plants are only slightly stunted ( depending on the severity of the damage ) . it is in the second year that the damage is highly visible on the aboveground plant growth . you will see shorter stems , smaller leaves , and often a slight discolouration of the leaves as the plant struggles to maintain all its normal physiological processes . usually after the third year , the plant is stunted enough for the grower to pull it out and replace it .

greg has an intense interest in biology and agricultural systems . plant and insect dynamics have always been in passionate focus . armed with a bsc degree and years of experience in agricultural research , monitoring , and technical sales , greg brings a wealth of knowledge to our writing team .

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the entire area of all regional districts in which the species occurs somewhere is shaded . the actual species range may be much smaller .

please note that some recommendations or photographs appearing in this section may not apply to this particular species .

please cite these pages as : pearson , mike and healey , m . c . 2012 . species at risk and local government : a primer for bc . stewardship centre of british columbia , courtenay bc .

although its habitat is not threatened , m . t . cowani is restricted to a small , isolated island where unforeseen events such as the introduction of mammalian predators or competitors could cause its extinction .

known only from triangle island , a small island with an area of approximately 1 . 07 km2 found 46km off northern tip of vancouver island ( nagorsen 1990 ) .

m . t . cowani is an endemic species , only occurring on triangle island . there has been no inventory on the species although it is assumed that its area of occupancy encompasses all of triangle island .

triangle island has an area of approximately 1 . 07 km2 . the occurrence separation distance has not been assessed for this species , but given the small area of triangle island , at this time it is believed to be the only occurrence of m . t . cowani .

cowan , i . mct . , and c . j . guiguet . 1965 . the mammals of british columbia . handb . no . 11 , b . c . prov . mus . , victoria . 414pp .

guiget , c . j . 1955 . undescribed mammals ( peremyscus and microtus ) from the islands of british columbia . b . c . prov . mus . rep . b64 - 76 .

maser , c . , b . r . mate , j . f . franklin , and c . t . dyrness . 1981 . natural history of oregon coast mammals . pacific northwest forest and range expt . sta . , usda , forest service , gen tech . rep . pnw - 133 : 1 - 496 .

nagorsen , d . 1990 . the mammals of british columbia : a taxonomic catalogue . mem . no . 4 . royal b . c . mus . , victoria . 140pp .

for information on how the cdc determines conservation status ranks . for global conservation status reports and ranks , please visit the natureserve website

b . c . conservation data centre . 2014 . conservation status report : microtus townsendii cowani . b . c . minist . of environment . available : urltoken ( accessed jul 9 , 2018 ) .

for more information on habitat issues , please contact the wdfw habitat program . habitatprogram @ urltoken phone : 360 - 902 - 2534

state monitor species are not considered species of concern , but are monitored for status and distribution . they are managed by the department , as needed , to prevent them from becoming endangered , threatened , or sensitive .

the wildlife diversity division maintains a state monitor species list that includes animal species for which we monitor status and distribution . little is known about many of these species , but biologists are concerned about their well being .

they were classified as endangered , threatened , or sensitive within the previous five years .

they require habitat that is of limited availability during some portion of their life cycle .

there are unresolved taxonomic questions that may affect their candidacy for listing as endangered , threatened , or sensitive species .

state monitor species will be managed by the department , as needed , to prevent them from becoming endangered , threatened , or sensitive .

species already classified in a category that provides adequate management emphasis , survey work , and data maintenance ( e . g . , game animals , game birds , furbearers , etc . ) will not be designated as state monitor species .

help hints : click the links in the column headers to change ascending / descending order of a column .

due to latency between updates made in state , provincial or other natureserve network databases and when they appear on natureserve explorer , for state or provincial information you may wish to contact the data steward in your jurisdiction to obtain the most current data . please refer to

note : range depicted for new world only . the scale of the maps may cause narrow coastal ranges or ranges on small islands not to appear . not all vagrant or small disjunct occurrences are depicted . for migratory birds , some individuals occur outside of the passage migrant range depicted . for information on how to obtain shapefiles of species ranges see our species mapping pages at urltoken

evidence of historical presence , or current and likely recurring presence , at a given location . such evidence minimally includes collection or reliable observation and documentation of one or more individuals in appropriate habitat where the species is presumed to be established and breeding .

separate sites separated by less than 1000 meters should be mapped as separate polygons .

barriers include : wide highways with heavy traffic ( subjective determination ) and highways with continuous solid barriers that prevent rodent passage ; major water bodies , arbitrarily set at those greater than 50 meters across in ice - free areas and those greater than 200 meters wide if frozen regularly .

group contains most members of the family muridae : mice , voles , lemmings , woodrats , etc .

use the generic guidelines for the application of occurrence ranks ( 2008 ) . the key for ranking species occurrences using the generic approach provides a step - wise process for implementing this method .

zoological data developed by natureserve and its network of natural heritage programs ( see local programs ) and other contributors and cooperators ( see sources ) .

banks , e . m . , r . j . brooks , and j . schnell . 1975 . a radiotracking study of home range and activity of the brown lemming ( lemmus trimucronatus ) . journal of mammalogy 56 : 888 - 901 .

brooks , r . j . , and e . m . banks . 1971 . radio - tracking study of lemming home range . communications in behavioral biology 6 : 1 - 5 .

garland , t . , jr . and w . g . bradley . 1984 . effects of a highway on mojave desert rodent populations . american midland naturalist 111 : 47 - 56 .

jike , l . , g . o . batzli , l . l . geta . 1988 . home ranges of prairie voles as determined by radiotracking and by powdertracking . journal of mammalogy 69 : 183 - 186 .

krohne , d . t . , and g . a . hoch . 1999 . demography of peromyscus leucopus populations on habitat patches : the role of dispersal . canadian journal of zoology 77 : 1247 - 1253 .

macmillen , r . e . 1964 . population ecology , water relations and social behavior of a southern california semidesert rodent fauna . university of california publications in zoology 71 : 1 - 59 .

maier , t . j . 2002 . long - distance movements by female white - footed mice , peromyscus leucopus , in extensive mixed - wood forest . canadian field - naturalist 116 : 108 - 111 .

oxley , d . j . , m . b . fenton and g . r . carmody . 1974 . the effects of roads on populations of small mammals . journal of applied ecology 11 : 51 - 59 .

parks canada . 2000 . vertebrate species database . ecosystems branch , 25 eddy st . , hull , pq , k1a 0m5 .

rehmeier , r . l . , g . a . kaufman , and d . w . kaufman . 2004 . long - distance movements of the deer mouse in tallgrass prairie . journal of mammalogy 85 : 562 - 568 .

smith , m . h . 1965 . dispersal capacity of the dusky - footed wood rat , neotoma fuscipes . american midland naturalist 74 : 457 - 463 .

storer , t . i . , f . c . evans , and f . g . palmer . 1944 . some rodent populations in the sierra nevada of california . ecological monographs 14 : 166 - 192 .

wilkins , k . t . 1982 . highways as barriers to rodent dispersal . southwestern naturalist 27 : 459 - 460 .

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natureserve . 2017 . natureserve explorer : an online encyclopedia of life [ web application ] . version 7 . 1 . natureserve , arlington , virginia . available http : / / explorer . natureserve . org . ( accessed :

" data provided by natureserve in collaboration with robert ridgely , james zook , the nature conservancy - migratory bird program , conservation international - cabs , world wildlife fund - us , and environment canada - wildspace . "

patterson , b . d . , g . ceballos , w . sechrest , m . f . tognelli , t . brooks , l . luna , p . ortega , i . salazar , and b . e . young . 2003 . digital distribution maps of the mammals of the western hemisphere , version 1 . 0 . natureserve , arlington , virginia , usa .

" data provided by natureserve in collaboration with bruce patterson , wes sechrest , marcelo tognelli , gerardo ceballos , the nature conservancy - migratory bird program , conservation international - cabs , world wildlife fund - us , and environment canada - wildspace . "

iucn , conservation international , and natureserve . 2004 . global amphibian assessment . iucn , conservation international , and natureserve , washington , dc and arlington , virginia , usa .

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bc ministry of environment : bc species and ecosystems explorer - - the authoritative source for conservation information in british columbia .

nagorsen , david w . 2005 . rodents and lagomorphs of british columbia . royal bc museum handbook . royal bc museum , victoria .

recommended citation : author , date . page title . in klinkenberg , brian . ( editor ) 2017 .

[ efauna . bc . ca ] . lab for advanced spatial analysis , department of geography , university of british columbia , vancouver . [ accessed :

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athrips profusa is a moth of the gelechiidae family .

it is found in zimbabwe .

the wingspan is about 13 mm .

the forewings are pale ochreous and a rather thick grey streak along the costa throughout , narrowed towards the base and with a whitish-grey irregular streak within the cell from the base , branching around the margin , with inter-neural branches towards the costa .

there is a whitish streak partially irrorated with grey beneath the fold from the base to the plical stigma .

there is some irregular light grey suffusion along the dorsum from one-third to near the tornus and there is a streak of grey suffusion parallel to the termen from the costa near the apex to the dorsum before tornus .

there is also a black dot beneath the costal streak at one-third , as well as a black linear dot on the lower edge of the intracellular streak towards the base , and one on the upper edge of the subdorsal streak beyond this .

the stigmata are black , the plical rather obliquely before the first discal , the second discal below the middle .

three or four black scales are found near the costa at five-sixths and some scattered grey and black scales along the dorsum .

the hindwings are grey .

athrips profusa

athrips profusa <EOT> athrips mouffetella ( linnaeus , 1758 ) = athrips mouffetellus = epithectis pedisequella hübner , 1796 .

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[ mozambique ] , p . [ ortuguese ] e . [ ast ] a . [ frica ] , belavista , xi , leg . c . j . swierstra .

janse a . j . t . 1950 . the moths of south africa . v . gelechiadae . - — 5 ( 2 ) : 61–172 , pls . 33–88 .

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to cite this page : myers , p . , r . espinosa , c . s . parr , t . jones , g . s . hammond , and t . a . dewey . 2018 . the animal diversity web ( online ) . accessed at https : / / animaldiversity . org .

disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .

this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .

, 2010 : the gelechiid fauna of the southern ural mountains , part i : descriptions of seventeen new species ( lepidoptera : gelechiidae ) .

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[ 10 ] de jong , y . s . d . m . ( ed . ) ( 2011 ) fauna europaea version 2 . 4 ( faunaeur . org )

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dichomeris viridescens is a moth in the gelechiidae family .

it was described by meyrick in 1918 .

it is found in india ( assam ) .

the wingspan is about 12 mm .

the forewings are lilac-grey with a dark purplish median streak from the base to one-fourth and a greyish-blue blotch in the disc at one-third , extending suffusedly almost to the dorsum .

there is a broad rather oblique greyish-blue fasciate patch in the disc beyond the middle , extending nearly to the margins .

the discal space before this and a fascia beyond it are rather dark purplish-fuscous with deep emerald-green reflections .

beyond this is a metallic-blue trapezoidal blotch occupying the apical and terminal areas , preceded on the costa by a triangular blackish spot before which is a white mark .

the hindwings are dull ochreous , the apical fourth suffused with dark fuscous and with a large basal patch of modified light grey fine scales .

dichomeris viridescens

dichomeris viridescens <EOT> html public " - / / w3c / / dtd html 4 . 01 transitional / / en " " urltoken "

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the eastern spiny mouse or arabian spiny mouse ( acomys dimidiatus ) is a species of rodent in the family muridae .

they have a wide range , having been found in middle eastern deserts , as well as being prevalent in riverine forests in africa .

this is the only species of spiny mouse which may have black coloration .

their diet is similar to other species of spiny mouse , consisting mostly of seeds .

eastern spiny mouse

eastern spiny mouse <EOT> the eastern spiny mouse in captivity may have a lifespan of between 3 and 5 years .

the arabian spiny mouse is found in south - western parts of asia and north - eastern africa ( 1 ) .

cairo spiny mice are also known as egyptian spiny mice , arabian spiny mice , greater wilfred ' s mice , or northeast african spiny mice .

if it looks like a mouse , behaves like a mouse , walks like a mouse and eats like a mouse , it must be . . . a gerbil ! or at least , a close relative .

behavior / temperament : the domesticated eastern spiny mouse has a reputation for being docile and easy - to - handle . they rarely bite unless hurt or very frightened : the most common cause of biting is improper handling . a well - socialized eastern spiny mouse may enjoy climbing and exploring on their owner , though unfortunately they can’t be “housetrained” and may urinate and defecate when being handled .

omnivorous , it feeds on insects , spiders , snails and various plant materials and seeds . where its range overlaps with that of the golden spiny mouse ( acomys russatus ) , the two species may exploit the same food sources , with the cairo spiny mouse feeding during the night , and the golden spiny mouse , during the day .

the basics : named for the course , spine - like hairs on its back , the eastern spiny mouse is a unique option for those fancying a more exotic rodent pet . like the more common fancy mouse , the eastern spiny mouse is curious , dynamic , and interactive . they don’t require a lot of room and are relatively easy to care for . they’re a bit larger than the common mouse and less inclined to quick , darting movements , potentially making them a better option for older children who can handle them gently .

as well as the spiny fur , which can act as a deterrent to potential predators , the arabian spiny mouse can easily shed its tail , either whole or in part , with no great impact on the mouse , a remarkable feature that can aid the mouse’s escape from a predator ( 2 ) .

the eastern spiny mouse has the additional benefit of being a desert species – they drink less water and their urine may have a less pungent odor than other mice . in the wild , they can be found throughout africa , india , and the middle east . wild animals should never be taken as pets , so it’s important to find a responsible breeder of domestic eastern spiny mice .

in developing arid regions , the golden spiny mouse has become a small nuisance to agricultural fields that use drip irrigation . in particular ,

the egyptian spiny mouse usually produce two litters a year . gestation is about thirty five days and they may produce from 1 to 4 offspring .

the egyptian spiny mouse is a small rodent that has a possum - like face and a calm temperament . they are a golden brown color with light patches underneath their eyes and behind their ears . their spines can be black or tan . the overall size for a spiny mouse is 5 to 7 inches . spiny mice may live up to 5 years in captivity .

the gray mouse lemur , microcebus murinus , occurs mainly in dry forests in western madagascar , but its distribution extends into humid littoral forests in the south - eastern anosy region . we sequenced the mitochondrial hypervariable region 1 for 282 m . murinus individuals from 13 south - eastern study sites . the spatial distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes and the varying genetic distances within two haplotype clades indicated a trend of decreasing genetic diversity towards the south - eastern margin of the range . rufous mouse lemurs , microcebus cf . rufus , have a complementary distribution in south - eastern madagascar which does not overlap with that of m . murinus . taken together , the spatial distribution of genetic diversity within m . murinus and the distinct ranges of the two species could indicate a recent expansion of gray mouse lemurs into littoral forests in south - eastern madagascar .

embed this arkive thumbnail link ( " portlet " ) by copying and pasting the code below . < a href = " urltoken " title = " arkive species - arabian spiny mouse ( acomys dimidiatus ) " > < img src = " urltoken " alt = " arkive species - arabian spiny mouse ( acomys dimidiatus ) " title = " arkive species - arabian spiny mouse ( acomys dimidiatus ) " border = " 0 " / > < / a >

fossil evidence suggests that the cairo spiny mouse ' s ancestors first appeared in africa , in the late miocene epoch about 5 to 11 million years ago .

populations are slowly increasing as human progress advances further into deserts and arid regions . this is because human habitation supplies additional food sources for the golden spiny mouse .

the cairo spiny mouse , which occurs across much of northern and eastern africa and the middle east , occupies the widest range of all the spiny mouse species . it favors arid rocky canyons and cliffs and gravel plains . it has also adapted well to human settlements , making its home in building crevices , rock walls , date groves and gardens . it appears to relish high temperatures , ranging from the mid 80 ' s to over 100 degrees fahrenheit .

note : care should be taken when handling a spiny mouse as the tail is very fragile and can be shed . once lost , it will not grow back .

communication : the animal apparently relies heavily on chemical releases that serve as a primary communication cues for identification of littermates , weaning of offspring and interactions with other spiny mouse species .

the golden spiny mouse is a non - aggressive rodent . when in danger or alarmed , it outwardly projects its bristly spines in order to make itself appear larger to a predator .

haim , a . , f . rozenfeld . 1998 . spacing behaviour between two desert rodents , the golden spiny mouse acomys russatus and the bushy - tailed gerbil sekeetamys calurus . .

cairo spiny mouse source : picture taken by olaf leillinger on 2005 - 08 - 13 license : cc - by - sa - 2 . 0 / de and gnu fdl . wikimedia .

golden spiny mice live in arid regions consisting of deserts and savannas dominated by rocky crevices .

the eastern spiny mouse is nocturnal and is an omnivore ( eats both animals and plants ) , specializes in eating hard - shell snails . it can often be found by the big pile of white empty snail shells it leaves on a rock - shelf or under a bush . an interesting mechanism , perhaps used for defense , is the ability to lose the skin tissue that connects the tail to the body and by that , lose the tail . as opposing to some lizards that do that , the spiny mouse cannot grow

spiny mice can be housed in a wire cage or an aquarium . the floor of the cage should have a deep bed of shavings in which they can hide and nest . nestboxes or hide boxes may be used to create a suitable environment for a spiny mouse . spiny mice also enjoy playing on exercise wheels . spiny mice require a warmer temperature than most other mice because they have heat resistant fur that is not built to keep them warm in colder temperatures .

the cairo spiny mouse breeds throughout the seasons , with the female delivering several litters of two or three pinkies over a year ' s time . extremely maternal , especially just before delivering a litter , she has been known to steal another mouse ' s baby and to groom and nurse it . if she doesn ' t have a baby , she may try to groom an adult mouse .

scientists at princeton university say the cairo spiny mouse may look like an old world mouse or rat , but it resembles a mongolian gerbil at the molecular level . " for mammals , " say the scientists , " this is the largest discrepancy known between a morphological and a molecular classification . "

aside from full or partial tail detachment , the eastern spiny mouse has no specific health concerns . they may be susceptible to the same issues that fancy mice do , including respiratory infections ( from drafty situations ) , occlusion ( from overgrowth of teeth ) , bacterial infections ( from unsanitary conditions ) , and diarrhea ( from diet or stress ) .

different authorities classify african spiny mice into as few as 14 species and as many as 19 . the

characterized by the harsh , inflexible spiny hairs of their upperparts . african spiny mice have large eyes and ears and scaly , nearly bald tails that are shorter than or about as long as the body . the

appearance / health : the eastern spiny mouse is a small - to - medium sized rodent with an average length of 5 to 7 inches . their bodies are covered in short fur which , when stroked against the direction of the hair follicles , feels coarse and quill - like . their long , slender tails look bare but are actually covered in short bristles – and be careful : the eastern spiny mouse’s tail can easily detach , an adaptation developed to escape predators . the have a long , pointed snout , large , black eyes , and large oval - shaped ears . the coat is a dark tan with black or grey tips , and white underside . there may be white patches on the backs of the ears . the tail is greyish - brown or buff .

if attacked by a carnivore such as a caracal or a fennec fox , the cairo spiny mouse may readily forfeit quills and skin patches , and its tail - - the price it pays for escape . if captured , it makes the attacker pay a price for the meal . its spiny hairs are difficult to swallow and irritating to the throat of its predator .

, but analyses of dental and molecular data suggest that the african spiny mice form a distinctive and separate subfamily , acomyinae . other african rodents proved to be close relatives of african spiny mice and were also reclassified in this subfamily ; these are

back the tail and will remain with no tail for the rest of its life . the eastern spiny mouse is abundant all around the middle - east from sinai peninsula and arabia in the south to syria and lebanon in the north and south pakistan and iran in the east . it can be found both in the mediterranean and the desert habitats in rocky landscapes . it is less common to find it near human presence although it is not obligatory .

vegetation changes throughout this region , from east to west , resulting in vegetation communities with varied appearance throughout the spiny thicket . parts of the spiny thicket are completely lacking in species of didiereaceae . alluaudia procera and a . ascendens dominate the eastern portions of the ecoregion . to the west , in the north , there are no emergent alluaudia spp . , but instead this area is dominated by didierea madagascariensis , dwarf baobabs adansonia fony , the very large pachypodium geayi , and delonix spp .

golden spiny mice are popular pets in parts of the middle east and can be a food source for pet snakes . spiny mice are easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory ( nowak 1999 ) . this has led to extensive biological and cancer research with these mice .

the arabian spiny mouse is thought to be present in a number of protected areas across its range , such as ein gedi nature reserve in israel ( 1 ) , but there are currently no known specific conservation actions in place for this species as it is not considered threatened at this time .

the cairo spiny mice eat nearly everything , even fiber mats . they are reported to have dined on the mummies in the tombs of egypt .

hapke a . , andrianaivo t . b . d . , gligor m . , razafimahatratra e . ( 2012 ) range shifts of mouse lemurs in south - eastern madagascar : evidence from mitochondrial genetic data . in : masters j . , gamba m . , génin f . ( eds ) leaping ahead . developments in primatology : progress and prospects . springer , new york , ny

is one of the smallest , with a body up to 10 cm long and a tail of less than 2 cm . depending upon the species , fur covering the upperparts may be gray , grayish yellow , brownish red , or reddish . black ( melanistic ) individuals occur in populations of the golden spiny mouse and the

yoder ad , burns m - m , genin f ( 2002 ) molecular evidence of reproductive isolation in sympatric sibling species of mouse lemurs . int j primatol 23 : 1335–1345

eastern spiny mouse has coarse , dark tan and spine - like fur on the upperparts of the body extended from behind the shoulder onto rump . body color varies from pale - brown to brown in color on the upperparts especially mid - dorsum while the underparts and feet white . the ear is large with white patches . whitish suborbital region . tail long , slender , hairless except on closer inspection has short bristles , shorter than the head and body length , upper surface of the tail pale grayish brown and buff or white on the ventral surface . palm and sole of the feet buff and without hairs . claws whitish .

a new species of spiny mouse of the genus acomys ( rodentia , murinae ) is described . this species is distinguished from the three other palearctic species of acomys by its black coloration and in that the baculum terminates distally in a completely cartilaginous trifid rather than a bony or partly bony trifid as in the other species . a key to these species of acomys is provided .

housing : eastern spiny mice are best housed in glass aquariums with a mesh cover . as a desert animal , they thrive in warmer temperatures ( around 81 degrees f ) and if kept in a cooler environment , may benefit from the addition of a red heat lamp . the cage should be kept in an area free of drafts or direct sunlight . keep in mind that mice are nocturnal , so keeping their cage in a bedroom might result in unrestful sleep for the human occupants !

weisrock dw , rasoloarison rm , fiorentino i , ralison jm , goodman sm , kappeler pm , yoder ad ( 2010 ) delimiting species without nuclear monophyly in madagascar’s mouse lemurs . plos one 5 : e9883

head and face : the cairo spiny mouse has a sharply - pointed snout , large and erect rounded ears , and prominent black eyes . like all rodents , it has sharp chisel - like teeth - - especially the continuously - growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws - - that are well adapted for gnawing . around its nose and mouth , it has long tactile hairs which it uses to detect objects in darkness .

. they are also found in southern turkey and on the islands of cyprus and crete . living in rocky , partially vegetated deserts , savannas , and dry woodlands , they den in rock crevices , termite mounds , or other rodents’ burrows . the cairo spiny mouse has the most extensive distribution , extending from northern africa to the indus river ; it lives near or with humans in some parts of its range . the most restricted is

type for acomys kempi catalog number : usnm 182901 collection : smithsonian institution , national museum of natural history , department of vertebrate zoology , division of mammals sex / stage : female ; adult preparation : skin collector ( s ) : a . percival year collected : 1911 locality : mount marsabit , n slope , eastern province , kenya , africa elevation ( m ) : 1402

the cairo spiny mouse , a social creature , lives in a familial group that often has a dominant male that fights for control . it ' s called by a number of names : a newborn or juvenile may be a " pup , " " kitten " or " pinkie ; " the female , a " doe ; " the male , a " buck ; " and the group , a " horde , " a " colony , " a " nest , " or a " mischief . "

this species has been recorded from northeastern tanzania ( amani ) and east central tanzania ( kilosa and morogoro regions ) , southeastern democratic republic of the congo , zambia , malawi ( on the nyika plateau ) , zimbabwe , eastern botswana , central mozambique and northern and northwestern south africa ( limpopo province , north - west province , gauteng and mpumalanga ) . it occurs up to 1 , 800 m asl .

fossils of extinct species trace the ancestry of african spiny mice to the late miocene epoch ( 11 . 2 million to 5 . 3 million years ago ) in africa , where they probably lived in habitats not unlike the dry savannas in which existing species are found .

hide - aways such as cardboard shelters and wood boxes should be provided for seclusion and privacy . toys such as obstacle courses and wheels are also recommended to keep the mice stimulated and active . wheels should have a solid floor and be big enough that your mouse can run with back straight .

after some five and a half weeks of pregnancy , she gives birth - - with no nest - - while she stands , often with the help of another female . the helper mouse may nurse the new mother ' s brood along with her own , an unusual behavior in animal species .

mice enjoy chewing , and should always be provided with items to gnaw on to prevent tooth overgrowth . acorns , walnuts , and other hard nuts are acceptable for dental health and as a treat . the wood from fruit trees or wood sticks from the pet store are an option that won’t add excess calories to your mouse’s diet .

all mice are naturally active and inquisitive , and a well - socialized mouse can be gentle and affectionate . they like to run , jump , and climb . they are primarily nocturnal , though they may wake during the day to forage and exercise . they are social creatures and are best kept in pairs or groups brought together while juvenile .

most information regarding reproduction in spiny mice has been discovered through studies carried out in captivity , as they can be hard to locate and study in the wild ( 2 ) . females give birth to a litter of up to five young following an approximate six week gestation period ( 3 ) , and it is not unknown for one female to help another with tasks such as cleaning and nursing ( 5 ) . the young are weaned after two weeks and may reach sexual maturity within two months ( 5 ) . spiny mice have a life expectancy of around five years in captivity , but in the wild this may be reduced to around three years ( 2 ) .

…old world rats and mice , african spiny mice , platacanthomyines , zokors , blind mole rats , and bamboo rats ) . other groups , however , cannot be classified with certainty and may or may not be a hodgepodge of unrelated genera and species ( new world rats and mice , dendromurines , and malagasy rats and mice ) . also unresolved…

take up residence in terrain consisting of dried up river beds and hillsides strewn with boulders ( kronfeld et al . 1994 ) . here , they can squeeze between crevices and remain protected from predators . the color of their pelage further aids in blending into the arid landscape . spiny mice don ' t typically have a family home , but live in a small community with other

young spiny mice are born in the presence of numerous females . these females will help the mother by licking and cleaning the newborn and disconnecting the umbilical cord . other lactating females will attempt to steal and adopt these young as their own . no fighting occurs , and this " policy " seems to be understood within the species . thus in essence , newborns are the " property " of all nursing females within a community ( grzimek 1990 ) . the male ' s role is not significant . he can be found guarding a nest site and finding food during the first few post - natal weeks . parental care mainly occurs by the mother ( s ) in charge . within 3 months the newborns are on their own and sexually mature . typical lifespan is around 3 years .

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this species lives in semi - arid or dry habitats including rocky and hilly areas , dry deciduous forest and scrub forests . it has also been found in agricultural land and even houses ( 1 ) .

classified as least concern ( lc ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) .

there are no known significant threats to this species , which is currently considered to not be at risk of extinction ( 1 ) .

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genus a category used in taxonomy , which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’ . a genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common . the genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ latin species name ; the second part is the specific name . nocturnal active at night . subspecies a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species , but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species .

nowak , r . m . ( 1999 ) . walker’s mammals of the world . the john hopkins university press , baltimore , maryland .

varty , n . ( 1990 ) ecology of the small mammals in the riverine forests of the jubba valley , southern somalia . journal of tropical ecology , 6 ( 2 ) : 179–189 .

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this species is featured in jewels of the uae , which showcases biodiversity found in the united arab emirates in association with the environment agency – abu dhabi .

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see musser and carleton ( 2005 ) for details concerning the relationship between acomys dimidiatus and acomys cahirinus .

justification : listed as least concern in view of its wide distribution , tolerance of a broad range of habitats , presumed large population , and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category .

this widely distributed species ranges from the sinai peninsula of egypt , lebanon , syria , jordan and israel , through much of the arabian peninsula , southern iraq and iran to southern pakistan ( baluchistan and sindh at 300 to 1 , 200 m asl ) in the east of its range .

this species is common in parts of its range ( eg . israel and jordan ) . it was considered to be ' near threatened ' in the united arab emirates by hornby ( 1996 ) .

this species has been recorded from several semi - arid or dry habitats , including rocky areas and hilly soils in mediterranean woodland , dry deciduous forest and scrub forests . in egypt the species invades human habitations , and it can also be encountered in agricultural areas .

it is presumably present in protected areas over much of the species range ( eg . ein gedi nature reserve , israel ) .

this errata assessment has been created because the map was accidentally left out of the version published previously .

( errata version published in 2017 ) . the iucn red list of threatened species 2016 : e . t136471a115208221 .

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i thought you might be interested in this item at urltoken title : mammal species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference author : don e wilson ; deeann m reeder publisher : baltimore : johns hopkins university press , ©2005 . isbn / issn : 0801882214 9780801882210 0801882389 9780801882388 0801882397 9780801882395 oclc : 57557352

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this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals .

a uniquely valuable compendium of taxonomic and distributional data on the world ' s living and historically extinct mammalian species . contributors and editors alike deserve the thanks of all

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" wilson and reeder ' s mammal species of the world is the classic reference book on the taxonomic classification and distribution of the more than 5400 species of mammals that exist today . the third edition includes detailed information on nomenclature and , for the first time , common names . each concise entry covers type locality , distribution , synonyms , and major reference sources . the systematic arrangement of information indicates evolutionary relationships at both the ordinal and the family level . this indispensable reference work belongs in public and academic libraries throughout the world and on the shelf of every biologist who works with mammals . " - - publisher ' s website .

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armour jal , neumann r , gobert s , jeffreys aj ( 1994 ) isolation of human simple repeat loci by hybridization selection . hum mol genet 3 : 599–605

( rodentia : muridae ) in africa and asia . israel j zool 40 : 199–214

) from four montane wadis in the st katherine region of the sinai peninsula in egypt . parasitology 129 : 379–398

dawson da , horsburgh gj , küpper c et al ( 2010 ) new methods to identify conserved microsatellite loci and develop primer sets of high utility—as demonstrated for birds . mol ecol res 10 : 475–494

glenn tc , schable na ( 2005 ) isolating microsatellite dna loci . methods enzymol 395 : 202–222

kalinowski st , taper ml , marshall tc ( 2007 ) revising how the computer program cervus accommodates genotyping error and increases success in paternity assignment . mol ecol 16 : 1099–1106

myers p , espinosa r , parr cs , jones t , hammond gs , dewey ta ( 2006 ) family muridae . the animal diversity web .

raymond m , rousset f ( 1995 ) genepop ( version 1 . 2 ) : population genetics software for exact tests and ecumenism . j hered 86 : 248–249

rousset f ( 2008 ) genepop ′007 : a complete re - implementation of the genepop software for windows and linux . mol ecol res 8 : 103–106

royle nj , hill mc , jeffreys aj ( 1992 ) isolation of telomere junction fragments by anchored polymerase chain reaction . proc r soc lond b 247 : 57–61

rozen s , skaletsky hj ( 2000 ) primer3 on the www for general users and for biologist programmers . in : krawetz s , misener s ( eds ) bioinformatics methods and protocols : methods in molecular biology . humana press , totowa , pp 365–386

alfadala , s . , dawson , d . a . , horsburgh , g . j . et al . conservation genet resour ( 2013 ) 5 : 519 . urltoken

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bedding or nesting material is essential . aspen shavings , corn cob bedding , or commercially available paper products are preferred , though paper strips , paper towels , cotton , tissue paper , and rags can provide additional bedding or nesting material . cedar and pine shaving volatile aromatic oils that can cause damage and irritation to the respiratory system , and should not be used .

the cage should be cleaned often to minimize exposure to ammonia and waste products . the frequency of cleaning will depend on the bedding used and the number of mice . to prevent disease , the entire enclosure should be disinfected at least twice a month .

fresh water should always be available and best provided in hanging gravity bottle feeders .

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adult size and weight : typically , the animal ' s head and body measure roughly five inches in length and its tail , about four and a half inches ; its weight equals about one and a quarter to one and a half ounces .

color and coat : its back is covered with a grayish brown coat and hedgehog - like bristles , and its belly , with light gray to white softer hairs . its coat helps dissipate heat and regulate body temperatures . its scaly tail has few hairs . threatened , the animal may spread its quills , making it appear larger and more formidable for an adversary .

body and legs : it has a plump body , short forelegs and long and powerful hind legs , which it uses for scurrying , hopping and climbing . it has dexterous forepaws , which it uses much like hands , facilitating its mobility .

unlike most rodents , the newborn , weighing about two - tenths of an ounce , arrives active , fully furred and open eyed . growing rapidly , it will be weaned within about two weeks . it will reach sexual maturity and begin reproducing within some eight and a half weeks . it will continue growing for perhaps three years , and it may live for as long as five years , with males generally living longer than females .

if the animal evades capture by sacrificing quills and skin patches or its tail , its blood clots exceptionally rapidly , minimizing losses and facilitating healing . however , its tail , which breaks off easily and painfully , never grows back .

burton , m . , & burton , r . ( 1980 ) the new international wildlife encyclopedia ( purnell ) .

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desertusa is a comprehensive resource about the north american deserts and southwest destinations . learn about desert biomes while you discover how desert plants and animals learn to adapt to the harsh desert environment . find travel information about national parks , state parks , blm land , and southwest cities and towns located in or near the desert regions of the united states . access maps and information about the sonoran desert , mojave desert , great basin desert , and chihuahuan desert .

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is brittle and breaks off readily either as a whole or in part . the

, is one of the largest , with a body up to 25 cm ( 9 . 8 inches ) long and a shorter tail of up to 7 cm . the

) , possess the ability to slough off patches of skin when attempting to escape capture from predators . the wounds that remain , which may be painful in appearance , may shrink dramatically within the first 24 hours after the injury . they are covered over by new skin at a rate roughly twice as fast as for wounds of similar size and shape that might occur in adult rats .

rodent , ( order rodentia ) , any of more than 2 , 050 living species of mammals characterized by upper and lower pairs of ever - growing rootless incisor teeth . rodents are the largest group of mammals , constituting almost half the class mammalia’s approximately 4 , 660 species . they are indigenous to every land area except antarctica , new zealand , …

asyūṭ , capital of asyūṭ muḥāfaẓah ( governorate ) and one of the largest settlements of upper egypt . it lies on the west bank of the nile river , almost midway between cairo and aswān . the irrigated nile river valley is about 12 miles ( 20 km ) wide at that…

miocene epoch , earliest major worldwide division of the neogene period ( 23 million years to 2 . 6 million years ago ) that extended from 23 million to 5 . 3 million years ago . it is often divided into the early miocene epoch ( 23 million to 16 million years ago ) , the middle miocene epoch ( 16 million…

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horse , ( equus caballus ) , a hoofed , herbivorous mammal of the family equidae . it comprises a single species , …

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this ecological site is preferred habitat for the threatened desert tortoise ( gopherus agassizii agassizii ) . creosote bush shrublands provides a home for an abundance of specialist insect species , for example , creosote bush flowers provide nutrition for over twenty species of bees , and the creosote bush grasshopper ( bootettix argentatus ) feeds solely on creosote leaves ( pavlik 2008 ) . a diverse assemblage of reptiles and mammals are likely to be found in this site . these may include ( based on habitat preferences ) :

this site may be used for hiking , wildflower viewing , and aesthetic enjoyment .

creosote bush is an important medicinal plant for native americans . it has a very wide range of uses from treatment for consumption , bowl complaints , and menstrual cramps , to induce vomiting , relief for arthritis , rheumatism , aching bones and sprains , congestion and cold , as an antiseptic and disinfectant , dandruff , antispasmodic , to induce urination , gonorrhea , and to cancer treatment . ( this list is not exhaustive ) . urltoken

creosote bush stems are used to make weapons , digging tools , and basket handles , and creosote gum is used for knife and awl handles . creosote bush branches are used as thatch in dwelling construction . urltoken

there are two major rock types in the ecoregion ; the tertiary limestone of the mahafaly plateau and the unconsolidated red sands of the central south and southeast . this geology corresponds to a major division in the habitat ( du puy and moat 1996 ) . the taller , dense , dry forest on the sandy soils is dominated by didieria madagascariensis , and the more xeric adapted vegetation on the calcareous plateau around lake tsimanampetsotsa is characterized by dwarf species .

biodiversity features the ecoregion has the highest percentage of plant endemism in madagascar ( jolly et al . 1984 , davis et al . 1994 , phillipson 1996 ) . forty - eight percent of the genera and 95 percent of the species occurring in the ecoregion are endemic to the island . some of the dominant forest species belong to the endemic family didiereaceae . there are 11 species and 4 genera ( didierea , alluaudia , alluaudiopsis and decaryia ) in this family . some of the endemic plants are extremely rare due to restricted ranges , such as aloe suzannae ( liliaceae ) and the palm , dypsis decaryi , as well as tiny euphorbia herbs , pachypodium spp . , and hibiscus shrubs exploited for the ornamental and nursery trades .

the harsh , drought - prone environment has produced extreme adaptations among the plants found here . woody species have long tap roots , swollen storage organs , and waxy caducus leaves . pachycaulous stems are common amongst the succulents , seen in adansonia , pachypodium , and moringa spp . spines are abundant among many plants , including the genera allaudia , pachypodium , mimosa , and didierea , and serve several functions . they protect the plants from moisture seeking animals and combine with large terminal leaves to reduce surface area and moisture loss . in fact , several euphorbia spp . have no leaves and conduct photosynthesis and respiration from the trunk and stems alone . other techniques used to deal with unpredictable rainfall include drying and reviving , toxic sap , and precocial flowering .

the red - shouldered vanga and long - tailed ground roller are recorded as " vulnerable " species on the recent iucn red list of threatened species ( iucn 2000 ) .

as is the case in many reserves in madagascar , the reserves themselves are not well managed or protected . for example , cattle and goat grazing continues in the fragile coastal habitats of cap st marie , an area of heavy exploitation by succulent plant collectors . a priority - setting workshop held in 1995 identified the following sites as in need of immediate conservation : the region around lake tsimanampetsotsa , fiherenana region , cap st . marie , and the mahafaly plateau ( ganzhorn et al . 1997 ) .

invasive plant species , such as prickly pear ( opuntia spp . ) and the rubber vine ( cissus spp . ) , which is only a threat in gallery forest , have increased the degradation of the habitats , especially in disturbed forest areas . as in other regions of madagascar , the collection of endemic species of plants and animals for international trade poses a threat to the integrity of the habitats . illegal collection is a particularly significant threat for the populations of the two endemic species of tortoises and various species of succulent endemic plants .

references cornet , a . 1974 . essai de cartographie bioclimatique à madagascar . notice explicative no 55 , orstom , paris .

davis , s . d . , v . h . heywood , and a . c . hamilton . 1994 . centres of plant diversity , a guide and strategy for their conservation . wwf and iucn , oxford , uk .

donque , g . 1972 . the climatology of madagascar . in biogeography and ecology of madagascar , eds . r battistini , and g . richard - vindard , pp . 87 - 144 . the hague , junk .

du puy , d . j . , and j . moat . 1996 . a refined classification of the primary vegetation of madagascar based on the underlying geology : using gis to map its distribution and to assess its conservation status . in w . r . lourenço ( editor ) . biogéographie de madagascar . pp . 205 - - 218 , + 3 maps . editions de l’orstom , paris .

ganzhorn , j . u . , b . rakotosamimanana , l . hannah , j . hough , l . iyer , s . olivieri , s . rajaobelina , c . rodstrom , g . tilkin . 1997 . priorities for biodiversity conservation in madagascar . primate report 48 - 1 , germany .

goodman , s . m . 1996 . a subfossil record of galidictis grandidieri ( herpestidae : galidiinae ) from southwestern madagascar . mammalia 60 : 150 - 151 .

goodman , s . m . , a . f . a . hawkins , and c . a . domergue . 1997 . a new species of vanga ( vangidae ) from southwestern madgascar . bulletin of the british ornithologists’ club 117 : 5 - 10 .

hawkins f . , m . rabenandrasana , m . c . virginie , r . o . manese , r . mulder , e . r . ellis and r . ramariason . 1998 . field observations of the red - shouldered vanga calicalicus rufocarpalis : a newly described malagasy endemic . bulletin of the african bird club 5 ( 1 ) : 30 - 32 .

humbert , h . 1955 . les territoires phytogéographiques de madagascar . in . colloques internationaux du c . n . r . s . , 59 : les divisions écologique du monde . moyen d’expression , nomenclature , cartographie . paris , juin - juillet 1954 . année biologique , 3e série , 31 : 439 - 448 .

jolly , a . , p . oberlé , and r . albignac . 1984 . key environments : madagascar . pergamon press , oxford .

langrand , o . 1990 . guide to the birds of madagascar . yale university press , new haven .

lowry , p . p . ii , g . e . schatz , and p . b . phillipson . 1997 . the classification of natural and anthropogenic vegetation in madagascar . pp . 93 - 123 in : s . m . goodman and b . d . . patterson ( eds . ) . natural change and human impact in madagascar . smithsonian institution press , washington , d . c .

mittermeier , r . a . , i . tattersall , w . r . konstant , d . m . meyers , and r . b . mast . 1994 . lemurs of madagascar . conservation international , washington , d . c .

morat , p . 1973 . les savanes du sud - ouest de madagascar . mémoires orstom 68 : 1 - 236 .

morris , p . , and f . hawkins . 1998 . birds of madagascar : a photographic guide . yale university press , new haven .

nicoll , m . e . , and o . langrand . 1989 . madagascar : revue de la conservation et des aires protégées . world wide fund for nature , gland , switzerland .

phillipson , p . b . 1996 . endemism and non - endemism in the flora of south - west madagascar . pp . 125 - 136 in . w . r . lourenço ( ed . ) . biogéographie de madagascar . editions de l’orstom , paris .

rakotomalaza , p . j . , and n . messmer . 1999 . structure and floristic composition of the vegetation in the réserve naturelle intégrale d’andohahela , madagascar . in a floral and faunal inventory of the réserve naturelle intégrale d’andohahela , madagascar : with reference to elevational variation . fieldiana : zoology , new series , 94 : 51 - 96 .

stattersfield , a . j . , m . j . crosby , a . j . long , and d . c . wege . 1997 . endemic bird areas of the world . priorities for biodiversity conservation . birdlife conservation series no . 7 . birdlife international , cambridge , uk .

sussman , r . w . , g . m . green , and l . k . sussman . 1994 . satellite imagery , human ecology , anthropology , and deforestation in madagascar . human ecology 22 : 333 - 334 .

udvardy , m . d . f . 1975 . a classification of the biogeographical provinces of the world . iucn occasional paper no . 18 . international union of conservation of nature and natural resources , morges , switzerland .

white f . 1983 . the vegetation of africa , a descriptive memoir to accompany unesco / aetfat vegetation map of africa . unesco , paris .

world wildlife fund 1250 24th street , n . w . washington , dc 20037

these communities are not evenly distributed , but located near food sources . in areas where human habitation exists ,

communities are dense , especially due to agricultural food sources ( haim and rozenfeld 1998 ) . it has been suggested that , since

are passive , through time they have been forced into living in arid environments due to competition / exclusion by other more dominant rodents ( kronfeld et al . 1994 ) .

are light golden brown in appearance on the dorsal surface . the ventral side is white in color however , the entire pelage of this species is bristly with individual , non - prickly spines covering the animal . the bristles tend to be thicker and more abundant dorsally . the ends of the spines are black or grey which gives this species a more light brown appearance instead of bright gold . a single white patch is found below each eye and behind each ear . the dorsal sides of each limb contain a small white patch as well . average body and tail lengths are 7 - 15cm . and 4 - 13cm . , respectively ( grzimek 1990 ) . there is slight sexual dimorphism in size .