Subfamily 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). ()

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. ()

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

Although Acomys, Lophuromys, and Uranomys have long been grouped together in the family Muridae (and sometimes called the "Acomyinae", as in Michaux et al. 2001), Deomys has been considered by many to be a dendromurine (Simpson 1945, Carleton and Musser 1984). Ellerman (1941) placed Deomys in its own subfamily, Deomyinae, based on the unique zygomatic plate and infraorbital foramen of the genus. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on LCAT and vWF genes, IRBP gene sequences, and GHR, BRCA1, RAG1, and c-myc genes have confirmed that Ellerman was correct in separating Deomys from dendromurines. These studies show that Deomys belongs in the family Muridae, and that it is part of the clade that contains the three "acomyine" genera (Michaux et al. 2001, Jansa and Weksler 2004, Steppan et al. 2004). This clade is now officially recognized as the Deomyinae (because the name "Acomyinae" was not submitted properly for official recognition). To date, no morphological synapomorphies have been identified that define the subfamily.

Deomyinae seems to be the sister group to the subfamily Gerbillinae, and the two subfamilies are estimated to have diverged between 16.4 and 20 million years ago (Steppan et al. 2004). ()

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. ()

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

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. ()

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. ()

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. ()

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). ()

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. ()

Deomyines may be resevoirs for plague and typhus in some areas. ()

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

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. ()