Typical Striped Grass Mouse
Encyclopedia
The Typical Striped Grass Mouse (Lemniscomys striatus) is a small rodent
of the suborder Myomorpha
, native to Africa
, and with longitudinally-striped fur. There are about eleven different species of striped grass mouse, of which Lemniscomys barbarus
and Lemniscomys striatus are the two most frequently encountered in captivity.
The average adult weight is 42.3g.
The female reaches sexual maturity
at around 168 days, the gestation period
is about twenty-five days, and the average number of babies in a litter is 4.54.
The lifespan of the typical striped grass mouse is short. In the wild, they generally do not live past their first breeding season. In captivity, they may live longer. The maximum age documented for a typical striped grass mouse in captivity is 4.8 years.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
of the suborder Myomorpha
Myomorpha
Suborder Myomorpha contains 1,137 species of mouse-like rodents, nearly a quarter of all mammal species. Included are mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, lemmings and voles. They are grouped according to the structure of the jaw and the structure of the molar teeth. Both their medial and lateral...
, native to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and with longitudinally-striped fur. There are about eleven different species of striped grass mouse, of which Lemniscomys barbarus
Barbary Striped Grass Mouse
The zebra mouse is also known as the African striped grass mouse and the Barbary striped grass mouse. It is a small rodent of the suborder Myomorpha, native to Africa. Plain coloured species found in the areas of south-east Kenya and Tanzania, and larger spotted species populating Eastern Africa...
and Lemniscomys striatus are the two most frequently encountered in captivity.
The average adult weight is 42.3g.
The female reaches sexual maturity
Sexual maturity
Sexual maturity is the age or stage when an organism can reproduce. It is sometimes considered synonymous with adulthood, though the two are distinct...
at around 168 days, the gestation period
Gestation period
For mammals the gestation period is the time in which a fetus develops, beginning with fertilization and ending at birth. The duration of this period varies between species.-Duration:...
is about twenty-five days, and the average number of babies in a litter is 4.54.
The lifespan of the typical striped grass mouse is short. In the wild, they generally do not live past their first breeding season. In captivity, they may live longer. The maximum age documented for a typical striped grass mouse in captivity is 4.8 years.
External links
- Tüpfelgrasmäuse
- Striped grass mouse entry at World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
- Russel Tofts: Striped Mouse
- Lemniscomys striatus entry in "AnAge": The Animal Aging Database
- Lemniscomys striatus entry in NMNH Mammal Species of the World
- Lemniscomys striatus entry in the IUCN Red List of threatened species