Ceylon spiny mouse

Ceylon spiny mouse
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Mus
Subgenus: Pyromys
Species: M. fernandoni
Binomial name
Mus fernandoni
(Phillips, 1932)

The Ceylon spiny mouse (Mus fernandoni) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Sri Lanka,[1] where it is known as ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක‍ටු හීන් මීයා in Sinhala language.

Description

Head and body length 9–11 cm. Tail 6–7 cm. Reddish gray above, with gray flat spines (each with 11mm in length) and the reddish hue from the intermixed fine fur. Underparts pure white with lots of long black hairs overlying. Whitish to grayish underparts, sometimes with a reddish-brown tinge. Ears dark and relatively large. Snout pointed. Tail scaly, dark purple in color, and longer than body length. Incisors are orange in color.

Range

The Ceylon spiny mouse is an endangered species known only from the following locations.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 de A. Goonatilake, W.L.D.P.T.S.; Nameer, P.O.; Molur, S. (2016). "Mus fernandoni". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T13961A88691425. Retrieved 7 August 2016.


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