Rudd's Mouse

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iRudd's Mouse Fossil range: Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Muridae Subfamily: Deomyinae Genus: Uranomys Dollman, 1909 Species: U. ruddi
Binomial name
Uranomys ruddi Dollman, 1909

The Rudd's Mouse or the White-bellied Brush-furred Rat, Uranomys ruddi, is the only member of the genus Uranomys. This animal is closely related to the spiny mice, brush-furred mice, and the Link Rat.

[edit] Description

Head and body range from 8.4-13.4 cm. Tail length is 5.3-7.9 cm. Weight is 41-53 g. The hairs on the back of this species are stiff like the brush-furred mice, but not spiny as in Acomys. The belly is white and feet are covered in white hairs. Incisors project anteriorly.

[edit] Natural History

The animal is known across a wide range in Africa, but is never common. They are usually taken in savannah habitat. Rudd's Mouse is thought to be nocturnal. It feeds predominantly on insects.

[edit] References

• Lavrenchenko & Granjon (2004). Uranomys ruddi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
• Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.