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CAVS: 1445

Species Pseudomys delicatulus (Gould, 1842)

Delicate Mouse

 

Introduction

Mahoney (1988: 173) listed synonyms, rather than subspecies. Jackson & Groves (2015) provide a discussion on taxonomic history and lack of subspecies recognition. Subsequently Roycroft et al. (2024) reviewed the species recognising three divergent lineages, a northern lineage for which they retained P. delicatulus, an eastern lineage for which they resurrected Pseudomys (Leggadina) delicatulus mimulus Thomas, 1926 (applied at species level), and a western lineage they described as a new species P. pilbarensis. They also revised distributions for these species and others within the Delicate Mouse group (P. hermmansburgensis, P. bolami and P. novaehollandiae)

 

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Western Australia


Extra Distribution Information

Kimberley region of WA through northern NT, see Roycroft et al. (2024)

Australian Endemic.


IBRA and IMCRA regions (map not available)

IBRA

NT, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Mitchell Grass Downs (MGD), Northern Kimberley (NK), Pine Creek (PCK), Sturt Plateau (STU), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB)

Ecological Descriptors

Burrower, coastal, granivore, open forest, subtropical, terrestrial, tussock grassland, woodland.

 

General References

Baverstock, P.R., Watts, C.H.S., Adams, M. & Cole, S.R. 1981. Genetical relationships among Australian rodents (Muridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 29: 289-303

Baverstock, P.R., Watts, C.H.S. & Hogarth, J.T. 1977. Chromosome evolution in Australian rodents I. The Pseudomyinae, the Hydromyinae and the Uromys/Melomys Group. Chromosoma (Berlin) 61: 95-125

Braithwaite, R.W. 1989. Shelter selection by a small mammal community in the wet-dry tropics of Australia. Australian Mammalogy 12: 55-59

Braithwaite, R.W. & Brady, P. 1993. The delicate mouse, Pseudomys delicatulus: a continuous breeder waiting for the good times. Australian Mammalogy 16: 93-96

Braithwaite, R.W. & Covacevich, J. 1995. Delicate Mouse Pseudomys delicatulus. pp. 592-593 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Breed, W.G. 1980. Further observations on spermatozoal morphology and male reproductive tract anatomy of Pseudomys and Notomys species (Mammalia: Rodentia). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 104: 51-55

Breed, W.G. 1997. Interspecific variation of testis size and epididymal sperm numbers in Australasian rodents with special reference to the genus Notomys. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 651-669

Briscoe, D.A., Fox, B.J. & Ingleby, S. 1981. Genetic differentiation between Pseudomys pilligaensis and related Pseudomys (Rodentia: Muridae). Australian Mammalogy 4: 89-92

Cooper, N.K. 1993. Identification of Pseudomys chapmani, P. hermannsburgensis, P. delicatulus and Mus musculus using footpad patterns. Western Australian Naturalist 19: 69-73

Fox, B.J. 1995. Pilliga Mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis. pp. 616-617 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Kitchener, D.J., Keller, L.E., Chapman, A., McKenzie, N.L., Start, A.N. & Kenneally, K.F. 1981. Observations on Mammals of the Mitchell Plateau area, Kimberley, Western Australia. pp. 123–169 in, Biological Survey of Mitchell Plateau and Admiralty Gulf, Kimberley, Western Australia. Papers resulting from a joint field expedition to Mitchell Plateau, Kimberley, by the Western Australia Museum, Perth, and the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, U.S.A., 1976–1977. 274 pp.

Lee, A.K. 1995. The Action Plan for Australian Rodents. Canberra : Australian Nature Conservation Agency 62 pp.

Mahoney, J.A. in Walton, D.W. (ed.) 1988. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 5. Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service x 274 pp. [Date published 13/Apr/1988] [173]

Morrissey, B.L. & Breed, W.G. 1982. Variation in external morphology of the glans penis of Australian native rodents. Australian Journal of Zoology 30: 495-502

Roycroft, E., Ford, F., Ramm, T., Schembri, R., Breed, W.G., Burns, P.A., Rowe, K.C & Moritz, C. 2024. Speciation across biomes: Rapid diversification with reproductive isolation in the Australian delicate mice. Molecular Ecology 33(e17301): 1-17

Watts, C.H.S. 1982. Australian hydromyine rodents: maintenance of captive colonies. pp. 180-184 in Evans, D.D. (ed.). The Management of Australian Mammals in Captivity. Proceedings of the Scientific Meeting of the Australian Mammal Society, Healesville, Victoria, February 1979. Melbourne : Zoological Board of Victoria 194 pp.

Watts, C.H.S. & Aslin, H.J. 1981. The Rodents of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xii 321 pp. 16 pls.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
23-Aug-2024 MURIDAE 23-Jul-2024 MODIFIED
04-Feb-2023 MURIDAE 18-Nov-2022 MODIFIED
04-Feb-2023 10-Dec-2010 MOVED
10-Dec-2010 08-Dec-2010 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)