Species of mammal
The little native mouse (Pseudomys delicatulus), also known as the delicate mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. The Kunwinjku people of western Arnhem Land call this little creature kijbuk.[2]
It is found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Papua New Guinea.
Description and behaviour
The little native mouse has fur that is yellow-brown to grey-brown above and white underneath.[3] It is the smallest of all Australian native mice with a head and body length of 55–75 mm with adults of both sexes being roughly the same in size, weight (6–15 g) and colour.[4] In Arnhem Land, the only place the species has been studied at length, breeding takes place in July and August. Two to four young are born in a grass-lined nesting chamber after a gestation of 28–31 days. At birth the eyes are shut and the ears tightly folded back, they develop quickly and are independent of the mother around four weeks of age.[5]
Habitat
The species is found in sandy, well drained, sparsely covered savanna.[1] The animal lives in hollow logs, under pieces of bark, or in burrows, the design of which varies with local conditions: in hard granite sand ridges the burrow is shallow, intricately constructed retreats with many false passages and one main nesting chamber; in sandy conditions the burrows are deep simple structures around two metres long and with only one main chamber. It occasionally excavates burrows in termite mounds.[3]
Diet
Grass seeds from native grasses comprise most of their diet.
