Striped Mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)
 Description: The Striped Mouse (or
Four-striped Grass Mouse) has
varied coloration, anywhere from a reddish brown to dark grey, but has
four unmistakable longitudinal stripes running down its back. The belly
is white, and the backs of the ears are buffy to red to in color. The
tail is bicolored, dark on top and light on the bottom.
Size: Total length ranges from 20-26.4cm. The tail usually
measures
9.5-12cm and the weight averages around 44g.
Habitat: The Striped mouse can occur in a variety of habitats
with rainfall at least 100mm per year. As long as there is grass the
Striped mouse can survive. They frequent gardens and will enter
buildings - such as Talari house at Wildcliff..
Behavior: A diurnal mouse, they are seen in the early morning
hours and late afternoon. The Striped mouse has poor thermoregulating
habits and is probably why it is not active in the cool night hours.
Burrows are dug in the base of bunchgrass stands and nests are
constructed in clumps of grass. Most of their daily foraging is done
under dense vegetation cover.
Diet: The Striped mouse will eat a variety of greens as well as
insects and seeds. In the fynbos habitat is eats the bracts of Protea acaulos and Protea subulifolia, which makes it
an important pollinator for these species of plants.
Predators: Small to medium sized carnivores and large birds
will prey on the Striped mouse.
Reproduction: After a 25 day gestation period, females give
birth to litter of up to nine young. Striped mice reach sexual maturity
at two months.
At Wildcliff: A very common mouse, it can be seen on Wildcliff
anywhere, especilly in thick grass. Pictured here in Talari, where it
favors the kitchen.
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