Notomys mitchellii (*)
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Euarchontoglires
Ordo: Rodentiaa
Subordo: Myomorpha
Superfamilia: Muroidea
Familia: Muridae
Subfamilia: Murinae
Tribus: Hydromyini
Genus: Notomys
Species: Notomys mitchellii
Name
Notomys mitchellii (Ogilby, 1838)
Type locality: Australia, Victoria, about 12 km SE Lake Boga (see Mahoney and Richardson, 1988:169).
Holotype: Holotype whereabouts unknown apparently AM 22 (not found in AM).
Synonyms
Dipus mitchellii Ogilby, 1838
Notomys mitchellii alutacea Brazenor, 1934
Notomys mitchellii macropus Thomas, 1921
Hapalotis gouldi Gould, 1863
Hapalotis richardsonii Gray, 1844
References
Ogilby, W. in Anon. 1838. Notice of certain Australian quadrupeds, belonging to the Order Rodentia. pp. 95–96 in Linnaean Society. London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, series 3, 12: 96
Thomas, O. 1921. Notes on the species of Notomys, the Australian jerboa-rats. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 9, 8: 540.
Brazenor, C. W. 1934. A revision of the Australian jerboa mice. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, 8: 79 pls 5–7.
Notomys mitchellii in Mammal Species of the World.
Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (Editors) 2005. Mammal Species of the World – A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third edition. ISBN 0-8018-8221-4.
IUCN: Notomys mitchellii (Ogilby, 1838 (Least Concern)
Notomys mitchellii (Ogilby, 1838) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Vernacular names
English: Mitchell's Hopping Mouse
Mitchell's hopping mouse (Notomys mitchellii) also known as the pankot, is the largest extant member of the genus Notomys, weighing between 40 and 60 g (1.4 and 2.1 oz). N. mitchellii is a bipedal rodent with large back legs, similar to a jerboa or kangaroo rat. The species occurs throughout much of semi-arid Southern Australia, and appears to be particularly common on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Typical habitat for N. mitchellii appears to be mallee shrublands on sandy dune systems. The species is currently considered to be unthreatened, but its range has been reduced through habitat disturbance and destruction associated with European settlement in Australia.
Individuals are a sandy grey colour, with white chest hairs and a paler underbelly. The tail of the species is long and has the characteristic hopping mouse brush at the tip. This tail morphology is thought to aid balance when travelling at speed. Being nocturnal, Notomys mitchellii shelters during the day in typical hopping mouse burrows; a small number of interconnected, vertical shafts, burrowing deep into the dune. Up to eight animals, different ages and sex, have been found in a single burrow.
N. mitchellii is known to have a lifespan of up to five years in the laboratory and this is thought to be a strategy evolved to combat the breeding-constraints of lengthy periods of drought. It has also been found that this species is less able to cope with water deprivation than other species of the genus. Notomys mitchellii produces concentrated urine to conserve water, but in a different way to more arid-dwelling rodents. The diet of N. mitchellii is also thought to consist of more roots and green matter than that of other species of the genus: animals captured in drought conditions had stomach contents consisting of some 85% roots, 11% green leaf and 4% seed.
As a pet
A 2010 report by the Australian Government Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation into the feasibility of keeping Australian native mammals as pets concluded that "Mitchell's hopping mouse is a suitable species for widespread keeping as a pet." As of 2010, this would require changes to legislation or policy in most Australian states and territories.[2] As of late 2013, Mitchell's hopping mice can be kept as pets without a licence in Victoria (Australia),[3] however commercial breeding still requires a licence to prevent removal of mice from the wild.
Victorian Wildlife Regulations 2013 - Schedule 4B Species are commonly kept by large numbers of the general public. Husbandry techniques are simple and well established. A license is required to obtain and, sell these species for commercial purposes as a safe guard against take from the wild. A license is not required for private purposes.
References
Morris, K.; Robinson, T.; Copley, P.; Burbidge, A. (2008). "Notomys mitchellii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T14869A4467099. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T14869A4467099.en.
Cooney, Rosie; Chapple, Rosalie; Doornbos, Sarah; Jackson, Stephen (October 2010). Australian Native Mammals as Pets: A feasibility study into conservation, welfare and industry aspects (Report). Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. p. xiii. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.35057.79208. ISBN 978-1-74254-043-6.
Marsupial Society (2013). "Wildlife Regulations 2013: Summary and Guide to the Regulatory Impact Statement" (PDF). Retrieved 8 January 2014.
Further reading
Watts, C.H.S.; Aslin, H.J. (1981). The Rodents of Australia. London: Angus & Robertson.
Baverstock, P.R. (1979). "A Three Year Study of the Mammals and Lizards of Billiatt Conservation Park in the Murray Mallee, South Australia". South Australian Naturalist (53): 52–58.
Strahan, Ronald, ed. (1998). The Mammals of Australia. National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney, NSW: Reed New Holland.
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