Fun Dusky Hopping Mouse Facts For Kids
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Dusky hopping mice (Notomys fuscus) are rodents that belong to the Muridae family and are similar to rats. They have a pale orange-brown color, dark eyes, and are nocturnal by nature. A dusky hopping mouse rests in its burrow during the day and ventures out at night.
Previously, hopping dusky hopping mice were presumed extinct in New South Wales but were rediscovered in Sturt National Park in 2003. Currently, they inhabit the southern part of Australia, the southeast of Western Australia, the south of the Northern Territory, and Central Australia.
They are opportunistic breeders, and their reproduction varies according to the rain or other conditions depending on the environment. A baby dusky hopping mouse is referred to as a pinkie, a kitten, or a pup.
A female hopping mouse is referred to as a doe, and males are referred to as bucks. Together a group of dusky hopping mice is referred to as a nest, a colony, a harvest, a horde, or a mischief.
If you like what you read, do check out these wood mouse facts and white-footed mouse facts too.
Dusky Hopping Mouse Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a dusky hopping mouse?
The dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus) is a medium-sized mouse. The dusky hopping mouse belongs to the Muridae family that inhabits desert areas and they are typically found in arid areas of Central Australia.
What class of animal does a dusky hopping mouse belong to?
The dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus) belongs to the mammal class from the Muridae family, similar to the spinifex hopping mouse. Muridae is the largest family of mammals with over 700 species, which includes other mice, rats, and gerbils.
How many dusky hopping mice are there in the world?
The total remaining population of dusky hopping mice (Notomys fuscus) is estimated to be between 2,500-10,000 individuals. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the dusky hopping mouse is currently vulnerable and endangered in some parts of the Arid Zone of Australia.
Where does a dusky hopping mouse live?
These dusky hopping mice, or Notomys fuscus, are distributed from South Australia to southern Queensland, the southeast of Western Australia, the southern part of the Northern Territory, and the north of New South Wales, including the southern Strzelecki Desert and the Cobblers Desert.
Since early in 1985, Notomys fuscus specimens have been collected from Carraweena, Montecollina Bore and Quinyambie Station, and Pelican Waterhole.
Earlier, the entire species of the dusky hopping mouse was presumed to be extinct but it was rediscovered in 2003 in Sturt National Park.
What is a dusky hopping mouse's habitat?
The preferred habitat of the dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus) is the slopes and peaks of desert sand dunes and ridges. The dusky hopping mouse doesn't have one particular favorite vegetation type, but they tend to live in burrows and sand dunes in sandy deserts covered by cane grass.
Apart from sand dunes, the dusky hopping mouse also appears to inhabit grasslands, shrub heaths, trees, and lightly wooded habitats. The dusky hopping mouse usually chooses habitats with high temperatures and desert-like conditions to keep their body temperature warm.
Who do dusky hopping mice live with?
Dusky hopping mice are generally found living in groups of three to five individuals.
How long does a dusky hopping mouse live?
The average life span of a dusky hopping mouse depends on its habitat. The recorded life span of the Notomys fuscus in the wild is approximately 13 months.
How do they reproduce?
The dusky hopping mouse is a species of opportunistic breeders; their habitat and environment affect their reproduction cycle so they breed throughout the year. The pregnancy of a Notomys fuscus lasts for about 38-41 days.
They are expected to produce a maximum of nine litters in a life span of 26 months, and a male dusky hopping mouse loses its breeding ability after approximately 38 months.
A newly born Notomys fuscus weighs approximately 0.07-0.14 oz (2-4 g) and opens its eyes after 28 days.
What is their conservation status?
The IUCN Red List has listed the conservation status of the dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus) as a Vulnerable species. According to the EPBC Acts Survey, the population of the dusky hopping mouse has been listed as Endangered in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland, and listed as Vulnerable in South Australia.
Despite the decreasing population and degrading conservation status, no active conservation action has yet been implemented.
Dusky Hopping Mouse Fun Facts
What do dusky hopping mice look like?
The dusky hopping mouse is a nocturnal mammal with long hind feet, comparatively large ears, and a long tail. They have a pale orange appearance with occasional gray streaks.
It weighs around 0.08 lb (39 g), and its height is approximately 10.6 in (27 cm), with its tail running to 6.1 in (15.5 cm), ending in a tuft of black hairs.
It has coarse white hair, large furless ears, conspicuous dark eyes, and strong incisor teeth. The distinctive feature of a dusky hopping mouse rodent is its small front legs and elongated hind feet.
How cute are they?
A dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus) rodent is charming and small. They'll fit inside the palm of a human hand and are extremely adorable due to their somewhat shy nature in their natural environment. Their furry appearance makes them very sweet and delightful.
How do they communicate?
The calls of a dusky hopping mouse rodent include twittering but these calls are not associated with threats or fighting. They sometimes use subtle actions to communicate with the groups they are in.
How big is a dusky hopping mouse?
The weight of a dusky hopping mouse is around 0.08 lb (39 g), and its height is approximately 4.5 in (11.5 cm) with a long tail that has a length of 6.1 in (15.5 cm).
If compared to any other rodent such as the Capybara, which weighs up to 201 lb (91.2 kg), and the North American beaver that weighs up to 110.2 lb (50 kg), a dusky hopping mouse is more than 50 times smaller and lighter.
How fast can a dusky hopping mouse run?
Like other rodents, the dusky hopping mouse runs on all four of its legs or sometimes hops in a continuous series of several short hops. Their long hind legs help them to run a little faster while chasing prey. However, there is no active information on how fast they can actually run.
How much does a dusky hopping mouse weigh?
A dusky hopping mouse (N. fuscus) rodent can weigh from 0.07-0.08 lb (35-39 g)
What are the male and female names of the species?
A female dusky hopping mouse is called a doe, and the male dusky hopping mouse is called a buck. A group of dusky hopping mice goes by different names such as a nest, a colony, a harvest, a horde, or a mischief.
What would you call a baby dusky hopping mouse?
A young or a baby dusky hopping mouse (N. fuscus) is referred to as a pinkie, a kitten, or a pup.
What do they eat?
Generally, the vulnerable dusky hopping mouse (N. fuscus) lives on arthropods, beans, berries, seeds, fungi, green plants, grass, roots, flowers, and nuts in the wild. They also feed on small reptiles like lizards.
Are they dangerous?
Though the entire species belongs in the wild, these small species are not dangerous. They prey on small reptiles and insects, and shouldn't be considered dangerous or violent.
Would they make a good pet?
This species of rodent mammals, just like many other rodents, are often referred to as house mice and would definitely be a great pet. A dusky hopping mouse (N. fuscus) is an ideal choice of pet for anyone who wants to keep a native animal, be it an experienced keeper or a newbie.
They are extremely cute and have a lot of interesting habits.
Did you know...
Like other jumping rodents, a dusky hopping mouse (N. fuscus) can leap powerfully and erratically up to 4 m (13 ft); their long hind legs help them achieve this height, and their slim tail helps them maintain proper balance.
They are nocturnal and stay hidden during the day due to the arid environment of Australia, and they prefer to avoid direct sunlight.
They have round furless ears, which enhance their hearing capability and help them spot predators from a long distance.
The dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus) doesn't usually drink water; they get their moisture from their food elements like berries, green plants, and small reptiles.
Why is the dusky hopping mouse endangered?
The chief threats that are endangering the dusky hopping mouse are the loss and destruction of their native habitat by other animals like rabbits.
Predators like the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus) have dangerous impacts on the total population of the dusky hopping mouse. Where the profusion of cats and foxes is sky-high, the population of the dusky hopping mouse is declining every day.
Cats frequently target smaller prey such as rodents as they can make up a large proportion of their diet.
How many babies do dusky hopping mice have?
The highest production expectancy of a female hopping mouse is nine litters in their whole life span of 26 months. A male dusky hopping mouse loses its breeding ability after approximately 38 months.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Catahoula bulldog facts and water rat facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable mouse sleeping coloring pages.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
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