Barbary Striped Grass Mouse

Taxobox
status = LR/lc
name = Barbary Striped Grass Mouse

---

image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Rodentia
familia = Muridae
genus = "Lemniscomys"
species = "L. barbarus"
binomial = "Lemniscomys barbarus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1766)
subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
subdivision = "L. b. albolineatus"
"L. b. barbarus"
"L. b. convicutus"
"L. b. fasciatus"
"L. b. manteufli"
"L. b. spekei"
"L. b. zebra"

The Barbary Striped Grass Mouse ("Lemniscomys barbarus"), also called the African Striped Grass Mouse or the Zebra Mouse, is a small rodent of the suborder Myomorpha, native to Africa, and with striped fur. There are about eleven different species of striped grass mouse, [http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/factsheet.php?id=110-011-028-001&view=Rodents%20and%20Hares&main=virtualzoo World Association of Zoos and Aquariums: "Striped Grass Mouse"] ] of which "Lemniscomys barbarus" is among the smallest, and among the most frequently encountered in captivity. [http://www.jirds.cwc.net/rag/profiles/stms.htm Russel Tofts: "Striped Mouse"] ]

In the wild, the barbary striped grass mouse inhabits areas such as dry bush and grass savannahs and semi-desert. It is found particularly in North Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia. [http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/factsheet.php?id=110-011-028-001&view=Rodents%20and%20Hares&main=virtualzoo World Association of Zoos and Aquariums: "Striped Grass Mouse"] ]

The adult reaches a size of convert|8|to|12|cm|abbr=on, from head to body; the tail is slightly longer. The average weight is convert|30|to|40|g|abbr=on.

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. [http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/factsheet.php?id=110-011-028-001&view=Rodents%20and%20Hares&main=virtualzoo World Association of Zoos and Aquariums: "Striped Grass Mouse"] ]

The barbary striped grass mouse is active by day, and is a social animal. [http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/factsheet.php?id=110-011-028-001&view=Rodents%20and%20Hares&main=virtualzoo World Association of Zoos and Aquariums: "Striped Grass Mouse"] ] Its typical behaviour is busy and inquisitive. [http://www.jirds.cwc.net/rag/profiles/stms.htm Russel Tofts: "Striped Mouse"] ]

Subspecies of "Lemniscomys barbarus" include "Lemniscomys barbarus albolineatus", "Lemniscomys barbarus convicutus", "Lemniscomys barbarus fasciatus", "Lemniscomys barbarus manteufli", "Lemniscomys barbarus spekei", and "Lemniscomys barbarus zebra". [http://www.jirds.cwc.net/rag/profiles/stms.htm Russel Tofts: "Striped Mouse"] ]

The lifespan of the striped grass mouse is short. In the wild, they generally do not live more than six months; [http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/factsheet.php?id=110-011-028-001&view=Rodents%20and%20Hares&main=virtualzoo World Association of Zoos and Aquariums: "Striped Grass Mouse"] ] 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. [http://www.jirds.cwc.net/rag/profiles/stms.htm Russel Tofts: "Striped Mouse"] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.rodent-info.de/vielstreifengrasmaus_allgemeines.htm Rodent-info.net Vielstreifengrasmaus]
* [http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/factsheet.php?id=110-011-028-001&view=Rodents%20and%20Hares&main=virtualzoo Striped grass mouse entry at World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)]
* [http://www.jirds.cwc.net/rag/profiles/stms.htm Russel Tofts: "Striped Mouse"]
* [http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Lemniscomys_barbarus "Lemniscomys barbarus" entry in "AnAge": The Animal Aging Database]
* [http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/cgi-bin/wdb/msw/names/query/23225 "Lemniscomys barbarus" entry in NMNH Mammal Species of the World]
* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/11487/all "Lemniscomys barbarus" entry in the IUCN Red List of threatened species]
* [http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/12300/12339/barbarymouse_12339.htm Barbary Mouse Illustration]