Southern big-eared mouse

Description

The southern big-eared mouse has a relatively heavy build for a mouse, accentuated by its thick fur. Fully grown adults of both sexes range from 237 to in total length, including the tail, and weigh between 45 and. It is however, not unusual for individuals to reach sexual maturity long before they reach the full adult size.

The fur is dull greyish-brown over most of the body, with paler greyish or yellowish underparts. As its name suggests. it has larger ears than many other local species of mouse, although they are not dramatically so. The feet are sturdy, and the fifth toe on the hind feet is unusually long. The tail is about three-quarters the length of the body, and is covered with sparse fur. It can most readily be distinguished from other nearby mouse species by its robust build, relatively long tail, and the absence of hair on the feet. Females have four pairs of teats, running from the axillary region down to the groin.

Distribution and habitat

The southern big-eared mouse is found in the Andean foothills of southern Chile and south-western Argentina, from about 38°S down to the Straits of Magellan. A few isolated populations are also known from hilly regions of south-central Argentina, and the species is also found on Chiloé Island in Chile.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are currently recognised, and can be distinguished by subtle variations in the colour of the coat and feet:

• Loxodonta micropus micropus
• Loxodonta micropus alsus
• Loxodonta micropus fumipes - Chiloé Island

Biology

The southern big-eared mouse is a nocturnal herbivore, although it may sometimes be active during the day. They dig burrows with numerous entrances, and have been known to store food. It feeds primarily on leaves, seeds, and grasses, but also eats some fungi. Population densities have been reported to vary between 0.9 and, depending on the local environment and time of year, with more individuals being found in the autumn.

The most common predators of the species include various owls, such as barn owls, short-eared owls, and lesser horned owls. However, various other local predators, including lesser grisons, zorros, and buzzard-eagles, may also include southern big-eared mice in their diets.

Southern big-eared mice breed throughout the spring and summer, and typically give birth to litters of four or five young. The young reach independence at a relatively early age, and those born in spring are generally reproductively active before the breeding season finishes in late summer. Individuals may be able to breed by the time they reach a body weight of 48 g, considerably less than the full adult size.

References

References

1. (2016). "''Loxodontomys micropus''".
2. {{MSW3 Muroidea
3. Teta, P.. (2009). "''Loxodontomys micropus'' (Rodentia: Cricetidae)". Mammalian Species.
4. Pearson, O.P.. (1983). "Characteristics of a mammalian fauna from forests in Patagonia, southern Argentina". Journal of Mammalogy.
5. Meserve, P.L.. (1988). "Trophic relationships of small mammals in a Chilean temperate rainforest". Journal of Mammalogy.