Mystromys albicaudatus
white-tailed mouse

Mystromys albicaudatus is native to the Ethiopian region. It occurs in southern Swaziland and South Africa. (Mills and Hes, 1997; Nowak, 1999; Smithers, 1983; Stuart and Stuart, 1995)

Mystromys albicaudatus inhabits savanna grasslands and semi-desert areas. It lives in burrows and in fissures in the soil. (Kingdon, 1997; Mills and Hes, 1997; Neithammer, 1990; Nowak, 1999; Smithers, 1983)

The fur color of M. albicaudatus is buffy-grey with speckles of black. Both the tail and the underside are white. Mystromys albicaudatus has large eyes. It does not have cheek pouches, as many of its relatives do. It has four toes on the forefeet and five on the hind feet. The female has two pairs of nipples, also called inguinal mammae. Mystromys albicaudatus is endothermic and bilaterally symmetric. The approximate length of the head and body is 14 to 18 centimeters for both sexes. The tail is approximately 5 to 8 centimeters. Sexual dimorphism is exhibited in this species in the form of weight difference. The average weight is 96 grams for males, and 78 grams for females. (Kingdon, 1997; Mills and Hes, 1997; Neithammer, 1990; Nowak, 1999; Roberts, 1951; Smithers, 1983; Stuart and Stuart, 1995)

The mating system of M. albicaudatus consists of monogamous pairs. The number of males and females is approximately equal, which is expected in species that are monogamous. Mystromys albicaudatus seems to breed year round. (Hallett and Meester, 1971; Smithers, 1983)

Births occur year round. The gestation period is usually about 37 days. Mystromys albicaudatus can produce many litters per year. Each litter consists of between two and five young, with a mean of 2.9 young per litter. The age of sexual maturity is not known, but the youngest age a female can produce a litter is 146 days. Lactation typically takes 38 days. During the first three weeks of lactation, the young remain continuously attached to the mother’s nipples. When there are five young, the mother periodically detaches one of the offspring so that the remaining one can feed as well. (Hallett and Meester, 1971; Mills and Hes, 1997; Nowak, 1999; Smithers, 1983)

Both the male and the female care for the young. The female bears most of the burden though, as she not only lactates, but must drag the young around wherever she goes, as they remain attached almost constantly to her nipples for the first three weeks. The female aids in protection mainly by covering the young. The male is much more aggressive and attacks and bites intruders. In M. albicaudatus, only the female grooms the young. The young are born almost completely hairless. The eyes open on average between 16 and 20 days after birth. The incisors often begin to erupt between 3 and 5 days after birth. It takes about 38 days for the offspring to be fully weaned, though information on when the offspring are fully mature is not provided. (Hallett and Meester, 1971)

The lifespan of M. albicaudatus is not known in the wild, but it is approximately six years in captivity. (Neithammer, 1990)

Mystromys albicaudatus is nocturnal. It has been reported that it is very active when it rains. It is not described as social; the only reported interactions are between a monogamous pair and its offspring. Mystromys albicaudatus engages in self-grooming, including scratching, face washing and licking. (Hallett and Meester, 1971; Nowak, 1999; Perrin, 1981)

The range M. albicaudatus covers is not mentioned. The size of its territory is only the size of its burrow or the crack in the ground it lives in, but no measurements are provided. (Mills and Hes, 1997)

There is not much informatin in the literature regarding communication systems in M. albicaudatus. However, it clearly communicates though through vocalizations. When young are separated from their mother shortly after birth, they squeal until they find her. (Hallett and Meester, 1971)

Mystromys albicaudatus eats seeds, vegetable material and insects. In the lab, it has been fed and is particularly fond of meat. Also, parents have been seen eating dead offspring on occasion. (Hallett and Meester, 1971; Kingdon, 1997; Mills and Hes, 1997; Nowak, 1999; Stuart and Stuart, 1995)

The main predator of M. albicaudatus is the barn owl. Humans also cause population declines by habitat modification. (Mills and Hes, 1997)

Mystromys albicaudatus has symbiotic bacteria in its stomach that may be important in carbohydrate fermentation. Also, it eats insects, so it contributes to keeping insect populations in check. Furthermore, it eats seeds, so it is involved in seed dispersal. (Mills and Hes, 1997; Nowak, 1999; Smithers, 1983; Maddock and Perrin, 1981; Mills and Hes, 1997; Nowak, 1999; Smithers, 1983)

Mystromys albicaudatus has benefited humans through its use in laboratory research. (Laregina, et al., 1978; Little, et al., 1982; McKinney and Hendricks, 1980; Roebuck and Longnecker, 1979; Waggie, et al., 1986)

Mystromys albicaudatus is not known to negatively impact the economy.

Current populations of M. albicaudatus are fragmented and in need of better conservational efforts. Mystromys albicaudatus is listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List. The IUCN indicates that up to 80 percent of its habitat has been lost, and 50 percent of the remaining habitat is expected to be lost in the next ten years if nothing is done. Its status has not been evaluated in the CITES appendices. (Dean, 1978; Downs and Perrin, 1995)