Striped Mouse - Rhabdomys pumilio:The Striped Mouse, so named because of the four longitudinal black stripes down its back, is an opportunistic omnivore, and has a varied diet. In certain areas they are mainly granivorous, while in others they may eat more plant material than seeds. They also enjoy a wide variety of other vegetable matter and insects. The striped mouse helps to pollenate many protea species, as pollen clings to its head while it is feeding. When the mouse moves off to feed on other neighboring flowers of the same species, it carries the pollen with it, thus assisting in the fertilization of these flowers. They normally excavate a burrow at the base of a grass thicket, ensuring that the entrance is well hidden, and lining the chambers of their burrows with soft, leafy debris; alternatively, they construct a ground-level nest under cover of dense stands of tall grass. They forage by day, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon, and are often seen among the tall grasses growing on the perimeter of cultivated land. In central Africa, where striped mice are also found, they breed throughout the year, but in the south the breeding season is usually confined to the summer months (September to May). During the breeding season the adult females appear to be territorial, with limited home ranges which probably overlap the large home ranges of the males. There are from 2 - 9 young per litter. SIZE: Length (including tail) 21 cm, mass 45 g. COLOUR: Varies from pale, brindled reddish-brown to dark, brindled greyish-buff. Two distinctive pairs of stripes, reddish-brown to black in colour, run from the back of the neck to the base of the tail. The underparts are white or whitish. MOST LIKE: Single-Striped Mouse, but the four dark stripes along the back of the striped mouse cannot be confused with single one along the spine of the single-striped mouse. HABITAT: Wherever there is grass cover, from sea level up to over 1 800 m. South Africa - Eco Travel Guides - Wildlife Guides: Travel Guides: -:- Activities & Interests -:- Regions & Areas -:- Routes -:- Maps -:- Wildlife: -:- Vertebrates: -:- Amphibians -:- Birds -:- Fish -:- Mammals -:- Reptiles -:- |