Mayor's mouse
Species of rodent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mus mayori is a species of rodent in the genus Mus, the mice. Its common names include Mayor's mouse, highland rat,[1] and spiny mouse.[2] It is endemic to Sri Lanka.[1]
| Mayor's mouse | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Mus |
| Subgenus: | Coelomys |
| Species: | M. mayori |
| Binomial name | |
| Mus mayori (Thomas, 1915) | |
| Subspecies | |
|
Mus mayori mayori | |
 | |
This mouse lives in tropical and subtropical forest types and wet grassland habitat. It is fossorial, seeking shelter by digging burrows. It is nocturnal.[1]
This species is widespread in parts of Sri Lanka but it faces a number of threats, including deforestation and domestic cats.[1]
There are two subspecies, M. m. mayori and M. m. pococki. A recent study catalogued the parasites associated with subspecies pococki: a mite of genus Echinolaelaps, a tick of genus Ixodes, and the sucking louse Polyplax spinulosa.[3] A new species of pseudoscorpion was found on the mouse, described, and named Megachernes kanneliyensis.[4] The mouse also carries the native Sri Lankan flea Stivalius phoberus.[5]
