Bolam'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: Pseudomys bolami

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2017

Description

Bolam’s Mouse is a small rodent weighing between 9 and 21 grams. Head and body length is between 50 and 80 millimetres and tail length 71 to 103 mm. The fur is a dull amber-brown to olive-brown with dark tips above, and white below. It has large ears and hind feet and a long, heavily furred tail. It is similar in appearance to the House Mouse but may be distinguished by its more prominent eyes, relatively longer ears and tail, lack of a musty odour and generally more slender appearance. The House Mouse can also be distinguished by the presence of a notch in the upper incisor and the female possessing five pairs of teats (Pseudomys species only possess two pairs of teats).

Distribution

This species is found in southern Western Australia and South Australia, extending east into the south-western corner of NSW. It was collected by Krefft in Victoria in 1857 but has not been recorded in that state since. Records in NSW are centred on the Scotia Mallee including Tarawi Nature Reserve, Nanya Station, Scotia Sanctuary and surrounding properties. A smaller number of records have also been made on leasehold land to the south east of Mungo National Park. Subfossil remains are also known from Mutawintji National Park, 200km further north, and more recently, this species was trapped during surveys conducted to the east of Broken Hill. This record extended the distribution and identified new habitat for this species in NSW, although it is known from similar habitat in South Australia directly west of Broken Hill.

Habitat and ecology

Recorded in a wide variety of habitats, with a preference for chenopod shrubland plains or low mallee woodland where there is a developed understorey of Acacia, Dodonaea or Eremophila species. It seems to especially favour plains areas, spillways and along valley bottoms where loam or clay soils occur. It has been recorded in four broad vegetation types in Tarawi Nature Reserve: Mallee-spinifex, Mallee shrubland, Belah woodland and Mixed open shrubland/woodland.
Animals are nocturnal and use burrows for shelter. These are sometimes associated with rabbit warrens and abandoned goanna holes.
Diet consists of seeds, fruits, blossoms, grasses and herbs as well as invertebrates such as beetles and spiders. Increased capture rates have been made in areas with a high cover of bluebush (Maireana spp.), with the seeds recorded as a food source.
Breeding usually occurs in spring and early summer, but breeding can occur at any time of the year following favourable rainfall, with significant increases in populations following extended rain. Litters have a maximum size of six.
Long term monitoring at one site in South Australia has recorded low recapture rates, indicating a highly transient species and/or a lifespan of less than two years.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Browsing from feral goats degrading habitat structure and resource availability.
Predation by foxes and feral cats.
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.
Loss and degradation of habitat from historical and current land use practices resulting in small and isolated populations, which likely increases the species’ sensitivity to threats (e.g. large-scale wildfires; loss of food and shelter resources; predation)
Overgrazing from domestic stock (e.g. Dorper sheep) and goats affecting habitat structure and resource availability
Lack of knowledge on how climate change will affect the viability of the species in NSW, including likely effects on resource availability, fire regimes, predation, and habitat suitability. Lack of knowledge of the characteristics and nature of climate refuges.
Lack of knowledge of the extent of the threat of predation (e.g. cats and foxes) to the species’ viability in NSW, particularly during ‘bust’ periods or post fire.
Lack of knowledge on the species’ distribution and habitat requirements in NSW, particularly during ‘bust’ periods.
Competition with introduced house mouse, particularly near agricultural crops but also in some large nature reserves

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.
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 shelter.
Maintain spinifex habitats.
Minimise clearing of foraging habitat, shelter and food sources, particularly areas with bluebush species.

Information sources

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.
Menkhorst, P. and Knight, F. (2010) A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. (Oxford University Press, South Melbourne)
Menkhorst, P.W. and Williams, L.M. (1995) Bolam’s Mouse Pseudomys bolami Troughton, 1932. P. 217 in Menkhorst, P.W. (ed.) Mammals of Victoria. Distribution, Ecology and Conservation. Oxford University Press Australia, Melbourne.
Moseby, K.E. and Read, J.L. (1998) Population dynamics and movement patterns of Bolam's Mouse, Pseudomys bolami, at Roxby Downs, South Australia. Australian Mammalogy (20) 353-368.
Moseby, K.E. and Read, J.L. (2008) Bolam’s Mouse Pseudomys bolami Troughton, 1932. Pp. 618-9 in Van Dyck, S. and Strahan, R (eds.) The Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. Reed New Holland, Chatswood.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Bolam's mouse Recovery Plan. NSW NPWS, Hurstville NSW.

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	Scopes Range	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None