Tarkawara, Tarrkawarra
The Spinifex hopping mouse (Notomys alexis ) is a tiny semi-fossorial, burrowing rodent. It spends a great deal of energy not just foraging for food, but also transporting it back to their burrows.
Spinifex hopping mice are a little larger than a common House mouse. As with all hopping mice, their hind legs are greatly elongated, the forelimbs small, and the brush-tipped tail is very long. The fur color of these mice is chestnut or fawn above, pale below, with a grey wash about the muzzle and between the eye and ear. The fur is longer and coarse black guard hairs on the back. The tail is sparsely furred and pink, darker above than below.
Spinifex hopping mice are found throughout central and western Australia. They inhabit spinifex-covered sand flats, sand dunes, and loamy mulga and melaleuca flats.
Spinifex hopping mice live in small family groups of up to 10 individuals in deep, humid burrow systems. Typically, there is a large nest chamber lined with small sticks and other plant material. The nest is about a meter below the surface, from which several vertical shafts lead upwards. These mice are mostly seen at night, bounding across the open ground on their large hind feet, with tails extended and the body almost horizontal.
Spinifex hopping mice are omnivores. The feed on seeds, green plants, and insects when available.
Spinifex hopping mice exhibit a polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system in which both, males and females have multiple partners. Breeding can take place at any time of year depending on conditions, with spring being favored. Pregnancy usually lasts 38-41 days but can be extended significantly if the mother is still suckling the previous brood. Litters of 3 or 4 young are typical, 6 being the maximum. Young are born blind and weigh about 3 grams. It takes around 20 days for the eyes to open. Females care for and nurse their young in the nest until they are weaned for around 28 days. Young Spinifex hopping mice reach reproductive maturity at about 2,5 months of age.
There are no major threats to Spinifex hopping mice at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide the Spinifex hopping mouse total population size. This animal is common and widespread throughout its known range. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
