The fiery spiny mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas. It may be found as a commensal in human habitations.
Description
While most spiny mice are small in size, the fiery spiny mouse is slightly larger, measuring at approximately 10 cm in length. The species gets its name from the hair on their coats that are connected in groups. These groups of hair are stiff guard hairs, resembling tiny quills and they are able to separate from the skin quite easily. Unlike other species in the genus, the fiery spiny mouse does not lose its bare, scaled tail as easily. The fiery spiny mouse varies in color from a deep brown to a reddish mixed with some black on its back while the belly is white. The dorsal surface color has also been described as being orange in color. It has medium-sized ears and black eyes.
Distribution and Habitat
The fiery spiny mouse is found in Northeastern Tanzania, near the Usambara Mountains and in Southern Kenya. It has a strictly confined habitat, occupying primarily rocky habitats in dry savannas in lower altitudes between 700 meters to 1,000 meters. The species is isolated on cliffs and outcrops and as a result, there's uneven distribution among populations. However, it's not uncommon to find the species in gardens, grain storage units and straw huts. In human settlements, the fiery spiny mouse has an advantage when competing against Wilson's spiny mouse, gaining preferred resources. With human settlements there's more dietary resources, like seeds.
Phylogeny
The fiery mouse is in the order Rodentia and in the family Muridae. It is thought to be related to pulchellus, kempi, montanus and cahirinus.
Diet
The fiery spiny mouse is omnivorous, even though it primarily eats grains, it also eat insects. They drink water easily and in dry bush country, they suck the water from leaves.
Behavior
Generally, fiery spiny mice are gentle in nature and rarely bite. They are also described as being very shy. However, in some cases, when living in groups, an individual will kill and somewhat eat the other members of the group. This was a behavior that was observed primarily in captivity. The fiery spiny mouse is nocturnal, doing most of its activity in the night hours.
