Forrest's 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: Leggadina forresti

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2017

Description

A small mouse (15-25g) with a conspicuously short tail that is 60-70% of the combined length of the head and body. individuals have thick, short, coarse light grey to yellowish brown fur with darker hairs above, and is white below. It has relatively small ears and eyes and a short, broad muzzle.

Distribution

Forrest's Mouse is sparsely distributed across arid and semi-arid inland Australia. In north west NSW, it has been recorded from Sturt National Park, Tibooburra, Fowler’s Gap, Mutawintji National Park (as subfossil remains), and from near Wilcannia. The species has also recently been recorded from Ledknapper Nature Reserve, and Culgoa National Park near Weilmoringle.

Habitat and ecology

Forrest's Mouse occurs in arid and semi-arid plains habitats, especially tussock grassland and chenopod shrubland. Also mulga or savannah woodlands, claypans and sandy ridges.
Nocturnal and solitary, this animal shelters during the day in nests in shallow burrows and cracks in the soil.
They feed on seeds, arthropods and green leaves & stems and, like other well-adapted desert rodents, probably obtain sufficient moisture from their food that they do not rely on standing water for drinking.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Heavy grazing and trampling of habitat by domestic stock, feral goats, rabbits and pigs. This also makes individuals more vulnerable to predation and reduces their ability to move between habitat fragments.
Predation by foxes and feral cats.
Poisoning from 1080 baits, particularly those targeting feral pigs.
Competition with introduced herbivores (stock, rabbits, goats, house mouse) for food resources and habitat.
Loss of habitat through too frequent fires or altered fire regimes.
Introduction of standing water, which attracts potential predators and competitors.
Loss of habitat through clearing (trees, shrubs and grasses), removal of ground debris and loss of hollows.

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

Control of vertebrate pest populations, e.g. foxes, cats and rabbits, which either prey on, or compete against this species for resources.
Use alternatives to 1080 baiting where possible, for pest species control programs.
Instil appropriate fire regime so as to not burn all habitat and food sources within a region at one time, and to promote natural succession.
Reduce stock intensity of, or exclude grazing in, some areas to allow regeneration of vegetation for habitat, food sources or nest sites.
Retention of grasslands, including the full cycle of grass development such a seed set and tussock formation.
Retention of stick and leaf litter for food and shelter.
Retention of understorey shrubs in areas where likely habitat occurs.
Maintain Triodia (spinifex or porcupine grass) in the area.
Limit the number of artificial standing water bodies in areas of concern.
Prevent clearing of habitat such as nesting sites, hollows and food sources.
Monitor and appropriately manage all known populations.

Information sources

Ayers, D., Nash, S. and Baggett, K. (1996) Threatened Species of Western New South Wales. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sydney)
Dickman, C.R. (1993) The biology and management of native rodents of the arid zone in New South Wales. Species Management Report Number 12. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
Ellis, M. (in press) () Rodents of the Western Plains of New South Wales. Wildlife Research.
Morton, S.R. (1974) First record of Forrest's Mouse Leggadina forresti (Thomas, 1906) in NSW. Victorian Naturalist (91) 92-94.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Forrest's Mouse (Leggandina forresti) and Sandy Inland Mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis) Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.
Read, D.G. (1984) Diet and habitat preference of Leggadina forresti (Rodentia: Muridae) in Western New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy (7) 215-217.
Watts, C.H.S. and Aslin, H.J. (1981) The Rodents of Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo Dunefields	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Central Depression	Known	None
Channel Country	Core Ranges	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Sturt Stony Desert	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Urisino Sandplains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	West Warrego	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields	Strzelecki Desert	Known	None