Deomyinae
spiny mice, forest mice, and relatives

Deomyinae is a relatively large subfamily of rodents in the family Muridae. There are 42 species in 4 genera in this subfamily, Acomys (spiny mice), Lophuromys (brush-furred rats), Uranomys (Rudd's mice), and Deomys (Congo forest mice). (Musser and Carleton, 2005)

Deomyines are found throughout Africa and in the Middle East from Pakistan to Crete, where the species Acomys minous is endemic, and Cyprus, where the species Acomys nesiotes is endemic. (Nowak, 1999)

Deomyines inhabit grasslands, savannahs, tropical and montane forests, semideserts, and swamps. They live at elevations from sea level to over 4,000 meters. (Nowak, 1999)

These mouselike rodents measure 70 to 175 mm in head and body length, and their tails measure 42 to 215 mm. They weigh 11 to 111 grams. They have large, prominent ears and most have long, thick fur. The fur of some species takes the form of stiff spines that cover the dorsal surface. Deomyines are reddish, pale yellow, dark brown, buff, or gray in color, sometimes with fine speckles or streaks, and their underparts are brown, white, cinnamon, cream, or dark orange. Some deomyine species are polymorphic, with melanistic black individuals appearing in the population. (Hubbard, 1972; Nowak, 1999)

Some deomyines live in monogamous pairs, and males and females cooperate to raise their offspring (Menge and Alberts 2002). Others are solitary and promiscuous. (Menge and Alberts, 2002; Nowak, 1999)

Some deomyines concentrate their reproduction during the rainy seasons, when food is plentiful, and others breed year round. Some females have been known to bear more than 12 litters in a row with no break. This rapid succession of broods is facilitated by a postpartum estrus, which ensures that females become pregnant again immediately after giving birth. Gestation lasts four to six weeks, and litter sizes range from one to six. The young of some species are highly precocial and are born with their eyes open, and others take up to a week to open their eyes. Nursing lasts up to two weeks, and the young are sexually mature at two to three months of age. (Nowak, 1999)

Young deomyines ranges from precocial to altricial. Precocial young accompany their mother while she forages, having no nest in which to rest, and eat solid food on their first day. Altricial young clamp onto their mother's nipples and nurse almost continuously for several days. Males of some species participate in raising their offspring. Each male stays near his mate when she is giving birth, and then he joins the female in grooming the youngsters (Menge and Alberts 2002). (Hubbard, 1972; Menge and Alberts, 2002; Nowak, 1999)

Deomyines live as long as five years in captivity; lifespan in the wild is probably somewhat shorter. (Nowak, 1999)

Deomyines are terrestrial rodents that are nocturnal, diurnal, or crepuscular. Some build nests under roots, rocks, or logs, or in simple burrows. Others simply shelter in rock crevices, gerbil burrows, or termite mounds. Some are good climbers, and others are capable of huge leaps when they are disturbed. Deomyines range from solitary and aggressive to gregarious, and some species live in monogamous pairs. (Nowak, 1999)

Pheromones are important tools of communication for these rodents, allowing them to recognize the age and sex of conspecifics (Porter and Doane 1979, Janus and Holman 1989). They perceive the world using visual, tactile, auditory, and chemical cues. (Janus and Holman, 1989; Nowak, 1999; Porter and Doane, 1979)

Deomyines primarily eat insects, especially ants. They also eat small vertebrates such as frogs, and vegetable matter such as grains and grasses. There are reports of deomyines cannibalizing conspecifics. (Hubbard, 1972; Nowak, 1999)

Deomyines are preyed upon by small mammalian carnivores, snakes, and owls. These rodents have some unique anti-predator adaptations. Some are covered with stiff spiny hairs, and others can leap 50 cm into the air when threatened. Some, such as common spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus), have evolved tails that break off easily when grabbed, temporarily distracting predators and giving them time to escape predation (Shargal et al. 1999). (Nowak, 1999; Shargal, et al., 1999)

Deomyines are primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers in their ecosystem. Some deomyine species are important pollinators (Fleming and Nicolson 2002). One species, Acomys cahirinus has become commensal with humans, populating urban areas. Deomyines are parasitized by several flea species, including Parapulex chephrenis, P. echinatus, Xenopsylla brasiliensis, Nosopsyllus incisus, Ctenopthalmus calceatus, C. evidens, C. grzimeki, C. verutus, C. eximius, Dinopsyllus lypusus, and D. longifrons. (Fleming and Nicolson, 2002; Hubbard, 1972; Nowak, 1999)

Deomyines are easy to keep in captivity, and therefore they are used as laboratory animals and have become popular pets in some countries. (Nowak, 1999)

Deomyines may be resevoirs for plague and typhus in some areas. (Hubbard, 1972; Nowak, 1999)

There are 11 deomyine species on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. One of these species is critically endangered (Asia Minor spiny mice, Acomys cilicicus), four Lophuromys species are near-threatened, three are vulnerable (black-clawed brush-furred rats, Lophuromys melanonyx, Dieterlen's brush-furred mice, Lophuromys dieterleni, and Crete spiny mice, Acomys minous), and three are not known well enough to make an assessment. These rodents, like many others, are threatened by human-induced habitat loss and degradation. A few protected areas have been established that may help preserve some of these species, but research and comprehensive management plans are still needed to prevent further declines. (IUCN, 2004)