| Long-tailed hopping mouse[1] | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Notomys |
| Species: | N. longicaudatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Notomys longicaudatus (Gould, 1844) |
|
The long-tailed hopping mouse (Notomys longicaudatus) is an extinct species of rodent in the family Muridae. It was found only in Australia. It is known from a handful of specimens,[2] the last of which was collected in 1901[1][3] or possibly 1902.[2][4] It is presumed to have become extinct within a few decades from then[4] – possibly several decades in view of a skull fragment found in an owl pellet in 1977.[3] The cause of extinction is unknown[2] but may be a variety of factors including predation and habitat alteration. Little is known of its biology[3] other than that it dug burrows in stiff clay soils.[3] It was less a pest to humans than other hopping mice,[3] although it would eat raisins.[3] The long-tailed hopping mouse was mainly gray in colour with small pink ears and big eyes with long hairy pink tail about two inches longer than its own body. It was first described by John Gould on the basis of specimens sent to him from Australia.[5]