By Mark Irwin
Geographic Range
Only found in coastal south-eastern Australia. Wilson's Promontory, Providence Ponds, near Loch Sport, and Angelsea.
Biogeographic Regions:
australian 
(native ).
Habitat
Lives in areas with soft, deep soil for burrowing. Mostly heathlands, sand dunes, open forest, and woodlands. Areas must contain a fair amount of vegetation to support their food needs.
Terrestrial Biomes:
savanna or grassland ; forest .
Physical Description
Easily confused with the house mouse. However, New Holland mice are slightly larger and heavier. Their fur is a dark grey color. The tail is 10-15% longer than the rest of the body with a dusky-grey color on top and white on the bottom. Feet are also white. New Holland mice have fairly large eyes.
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .
Reproduction
Most young are born between August and January, but sometimes breeding extends into Autumn. This breeding pattern is related to food abundance which fluctuates with rainfall patterns. Females in their first year of reproduction can produce one litter per season. Second year females can produce up to three or four litters. Litter size is generally one to six young, the average being 4.6 young. Births take place during the day in the mother's nest. The lactation period is three to four weeks. It takes thirteen weeks for females to reach sexual maturity, while it takes males twenty weeks. Females may mature earlier if population density is low.
Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .
Behavior
New Holland mice are nocturnal and terrestrial rodents. For refuge, they burrow deep in sand and soft soils.
Key behaviors:
motile .
Food Habits
Diet consists mostly of plant seeds from various species(particularly legumes). However, New Holland mice also eat leaves and flowers, fungi, and some invertebrates.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Lower Risk - Least Concern.
US Federal List: [link]:
Endangered.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
Listed as a threatened species in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Under threat initially due to habitat loss and alteration caused by clearing. More recently, inappropriate prescribed fire frequencies have created unsuitable habitat for New Holland mice. Introduced predators such as red fox, domestic cat, and domestic dog are important causes of mortality. Conservation efforts are being made by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Australia, Deakin University, and the Melbourne Zoo. Efforts include formation of a state-wide recovery team, habitat evaluation and protection, genetic research, and surveying/monitoring of populations.
For More Information
Find Pseudomys novaehollandiae information at
Contributors
Mark Irwin (author), University of Michigan.
Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan.
