Fawn Hopping-mouse - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Notomys cervinus

Conservation status in NSW: Extinct

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 19 Dec 2023

Description

An inhabitant of the arid Australian outback, the Fawn Hopping-mouse is a relatively large rodent (head-body length 95-120 mm, body mass 30-50 g). The tail is longer than the body (120-160 mm) and ends in a tuft of dark hairs. It has elongated hind legs and feet on which it hops gracefully and rapidly. The upperbody colour varies among individuals and ranges from pale pinkish-fawn to grey. The belly is white. The ears are particularly long and the head broad and short. The eyes are very protuberant. Whiskers on the muzzle are extremely long (up to 65 mm).

In contrast to the Dusky Hopping-mouse and Spinifex Hopping-mouse with which it may be confused, the Fawn Hopping-mouse does not have a throat pouch. Males may have a glandular area of naked or raised skin (2-3 mm across) on the chest between the forelimbs.

Distribution

The Fawn Hopping-mouse is patchily distributed on the gibber plains and claypans of the Lake Eyre Basin in north-east South Australia and south-west Queensland. Records from the late 19th century show that its former range was more extensive and included the Northern Territory.

More recent records indicate species may also be present in Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park and Curtin Springs.

Habitat and ecology

The Fawn Hopping-mouse inhabits the arid Australian outback and lives in small family groups of two to four individuals.
During the day, they shelter in burrows which are simpler and shallower than those of the sand-dwelling Dusky Hopping-mouse but nevertheless can be up to a metre deep and have between one and three entrances.
At night, they forage outwards for hundreds of metres, searching for seeds, and also taking green shoots and insects if available. Like other hopping mice it does not require fresh sources of water, but can drink salty water, excreting excess salt in concentrated urine and faeces.
Reproduction in this species appears to be opportunistic; breeding occurring when conditions are favourable. The adult male fawn hopping mouse possesses a glandular area of raised and hairless skin on the chest. This patch of skin, which is assumed to be used in scent-marking, is also evident in the female during periods of pregnancy and lactation. In captivity gestation is between 38 and 43 days following which litters of one to five fully furred young are born.

Threats

Threatening processes faced by the Fawn Hopping-mouse have not been identified. However, possible factors include habitat degradation, predation by introduced carnivores (cats and foxes), and competition with introduced herbivores (including cattle and rabbits).

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

There is no existing management program for the species in the Northern Territory.
However, management priorities are: - Targeted searches for the species should be included in any future survey of the Stony Plains bioregion in the Northern Territory; and - Any reliable potential sightings should be followed up as soon as possible.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Other State

Known

None

Nature conservation

Threatened species