Macedonian mouse | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Genus: | Mus |
Species: | M. macedonicus
|
Binomial name | |
Mus macedonicus Petrov & Ruzic, 1983
|
The Macedonian mouse (Mus macedonicus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae and order Rodentia. This rodent lives in the area from eastern Georgia and western Bulgaria to Israel. [2] It is considered part of a Palearctic group along with three other species: the house mouse, steppe mouse, and Algerian mouse. [3]
The Macedonian mouse is a small rodent, weighing 15 grams (0.53 oz). [4] Fur color is variable across its range; in a study of numerous specimens in Turkey, Macedonian mice were found to have back colors ranging from dark brown to pale light brown to dark-reddish brown. [5] There is a distinct line of demarcation along the flanks that separates top and bottom coloration. [5] The bottom coloration ranged from whitish grey, pure white, yellowish white, and reddish white. [5] The ears have tiny white hairs. [5] This rodent has a tail that is dark brown on top and lighter on bottom. [5] The bottoms of the Macedonian mouse's feet are bare while the tops of their feet have white hairs. [5] Macedeonan mice are nocturnal. [4]
The sutura squamalis has distinction from other species because it is smoothed or protrudes slightly forward. [5] The upper portion of the zygomatic arch is also narrower than the lower portion. [5] Macedonian mice found in Israel are smaller than their northern counterparts. [2]
Body mass of Macedonian mice exposed to short photoperiods increased - essentially they got bigger to stay warmer when it is cold. [4] The short photoperiods also increased their resistance to cold while long photoperiods increased their ability to manage higher temperatures. [4] Food consumption and waste production are lower in the mice that have longer photoperiods. [4] These physiological changes allow the mice to be well adapted to the changes that occur in the Mediterranean on a seasonal basis. [4] This mouse also shows a genetic tendency for glial fibrillary acidic protein in their lens epithelial cells. [6] This is a new marker of polymorphism in the genus Mus. [6]
Macedonian mouse | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Genus: | Mus |
Species: | M. macedonicus
|
Binomial name | |
Mus macedonicus Petrov & Ruzic, 1983
|
The Macedonian mouse (Mus macedonicus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae and order Rodentia. This rodent lives in the area from eastern Georgia and western Bulgaria to Israel. [2] It is considered part of a Palearctic group along with three other species: the house mouse, steppe mouse, and Algerian mouse. [3]
The Macedonian mouse is a small rodent, weighing 15 grams (0.53 oz). [4] Fur color is variable across its range; in a study of numerous specimens in Turkey, Macedonian mice were found to have back colors ranging from dark brown to pale light brown to dark-reddish brown. [5] There is a distinct line of demarcation along the flanks that separates top and bottom coloration. [5] The bottom coloration ranged from whitish grey, pure white, yellowish white, and reddish white. [5] The ears have tiny white hairs. [5] This rodent has a tail that is dark brown on top and lighter on bottom. [5] The bottoms of the Macedonian mouse's feet are bare while the tops of their feet have white hairs. [5] Macedeonan mice are nocturnal. [4]
The sutura squamalis has distinction from other species because it is smoothed or protrudes slightly forward. [5] The upper portion of the zygomatic arch is also narrower than the lower portion. [5] Macedonian mice found in Israel are smaller than their northern counterparts. [2]
Body mass of Macedonian mice exposed to short photoperiods increased - essentially they got bigger to stay warmer when it is cold. [4] The short photoperiods also increased their resistance to cold while long photoperiods increased their ability to manage higher temperatures. [4] Food consumption and waste production are lower in the mice that have longer photoperiods. [4] These physiological changes allow the mice to be well adapted to the changes that occur in the Mediterranean on a seasonal basis. [4] This mouse also shows a genetic tendency for glial fibrillary acidic protein in their lens epithelial cells. [6] This is a new marker of polymorphism in the genus Mus. [6]