Wild Zebra Mice

Taxonomy
Marks of identification
Life in the Wild

MARKS OF IDENTIFICATION

The lengths vary according to the species.

Lemniscomys griselda's and Lemniscomys striatus' average sizes: Head and body together 120 (98-140) mm, tail 120 (102-155) mm, hind leg 23-32 mm, skull 27-21 mm and weight 50 (20-86) g.

Lemniscomys macculus: Head and body together 100 (95-122) mm, tail 100 (94-124) mm, hind leg 20-23 mm, skull 23-27 mm and weight 18-35 g.

Lemniscomys barbarus: Head and body together 105 (90-118) mm, tail 107 (95-133) mm, hind leg 22-36 mm, skull 23-27 mm and weight 30 (23-41) g. Information in the parentheses correspond totally those of Lemniscomys barbarus zebra, which may prove that it is of the average size of Lemniscomys barbarus -species.

Other Marks of Identification

Zebra mice have long and blunt-nosed head. The head attaches to the body without a distinctive neck. The tail is very long and covered with transparent short hair. The animal is of long and lean type. Feet are small and delicate. Ears are round and hairy; their natural position is flat against the neck. Eyes are plum seed shaped and black.

The colouring differs a bit from one species to another. Nevertheless, here are the most common marks of identification:

Back: according to the species, the back is stripy with clear-cut or brindled markings. Some species have more distinct stripes than others do and often they are framed with white. Stripes are usually dark brown. There is a black stripe running along the spine from the tail tip to the forehead. Basic colour is usually light brown.

Head: Solid coloured dark brown, with some species it may have a stripy appearance. Around the eyes there is a creamy-coloured circle. Nose light. Whiskers short and colourless.

Belly and feet: white, along the demarcation line between top and belly colour there is a narrow line of brazen colour. Some species have brass -coloured feet, but usually they are of normal white colouring. The belly colour is barely visible when the animal is viewed from the side.

The tail is either totally dark or light; some species have bi-coloured tail; lighter at the underside. The stripy colouring is thought to distract the possible enemies of the zebra mice; the enemy cannot distinguish the outlines of the mouse because of the stripes. Quite cool defence, don't you think!

Text by: Lotta Ahlfors & Kaisa Kattilakoski with help from Petri Airasvirta.

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