Barbary Striped Grass Mouse
Encyclopedia
The zebra mouse is also known as the African striped grass mouse and the Barbary striped grass mouse. It is a small rodent
of the suborder Myomorpha
, native to Africa
. Plain coloured species found in the areas of south-east Kenya and Tanzania, and larger spotted species populating Eastern Africa. Smaller spotted species live in Uganda Southwest of Tanzania and western Kenya. Small striped species have spread to Northern Uganda, Middle and Southeast Kenya, Tanzania and on the banks of Lake Victoria.
There are about eleven different species of striped grass mouse, of which Lemniscomys barbarus is among the smallest, and among the most frequently encountered in captivity.
The adult reaches a size of 8 centimetre, from head to body; the tail is slightly longer. The average weight is 30 gram.
The male is sexually mature at ten weeks, the female at five to six months. The gestation period
is twenty-one days, and a litter would normally contain about five young. The young are born blind and hairless.
The barbary striped grass mouse is active by day, and is a social animal. Its typical behaviour is busy and inquisitive.
Subspecies of Lemniscomys barbarus include Lemniscomys barbarus albolineatus, Lemniscomys barbarus convicutus, Lemniscomys barbarus fasciatus, Lemniscomys barbarus manteufli, Lemniscomys barbarus spekei, and Lemniscomys barbarus zebra.
The lifespan of the striped grass mouse is short. In the wild, they generally do not live more than six months; in captivity, it may be as long as four years, or even more, but according to Russel Tofts, even in captivity, they seldom live for more than two and a half years.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
of the suborder Myomorpha
Myomorpha
Suborder Myomorpha contains 1,137 species of mouse-like rodents, nearly a quarter of all mammal species. Included are mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, lemmings and voles. They are grouped according to the structure of the jaw and the structure of the molar teeth. Both their medial and lateral...
, native to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Plain coloured species found in the areas of south-east Kenya and Tanzania, and larger spotted species populating Eastern Africa. Smaller spotted species live in Uganda Southwest of Tanzania and western Kenya. Small striped species have spread to Northern Uganda, Middle and Southeast Kenya, Tanzania and on the banks of Lake Victoria.
There are about eleven different species of striped grass mouse, of which Lemniscomys barbarus is among the smallest, and among the most frequently encountered in captivity.
The adult reaches a size of 8 centimetre, from head to body; the tail is slightly longer. The average weight is 30 gram.
The male is sexually mature at ten weeks, the female at five to six months. The gestation period
Gestation period
For mammals the gestation period is the time in which a fetus develops, beginning with fertilization and ending at birth. The duration of this period varies between species.-Duration:...
is twenty-one days, and a litter would normally contain about five young. The young are born blind and hairless.
The barbary striped grass mouse is active by day, and is a social animal. Its typical behaviour is busy and inquisitive.
Subspecies of Lemniscomys barbarus include Lemniscomys barbarus albolineatus, Lemniscomys barbarus convicutus, Lemniscomys barbarus fasciatus, Lemniscomys barbarus manteufli, Lemniscomys barbarus spekei, and Lemniscomys barbarus zebra.
The lifespan of the striped grass mouse is short. In the wild, they generally do not live more than six months; in captivity, it may be as long as four years, or even more, but according to Russel Tofts, even in captivity, they seldom live for more than two and a half years.
External links
- Rodent-info.net Vielstreifengrasmaus
- Striped grass mouse entry at World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
- Russel Tofts: Striped Mouse
- Lemniscomys barbarus entry in "AnAge": The Animal Aging Database
- Lemniscomys barbarus entry in NMNH Mammal Species of the World
- Lemniscomys barbarus entry in the IUCN Red List of threatened species
- Barbary Mouse Illustration