Northern hopping mouse explained

The northern hopping mouse (Notomys aquilo) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.^{[1] [2]} It is also known as woorrentinta, from Lardil, the language of Mornington Island.^{[3] [4]}

It is found only in coastal northern Australia, from Arnhem Land to the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory of Australia. The only known population is in the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area on Groote Eylandt. There have two former sightings in inland central Arnhem Land and in Cape York in Queensland 120 years ago, both single recordings. Its population has not been yet been determined.^[5] It is classified as vulnerable.

The mouse weighs 25 to 50 grams and is brown above and white below. Its long tail measures 150% of its body length and it has long hind feet up to 4 centimeters long.

This species lives in sandy soils on heathlands and grasslands. It is nocturnal. It consumes seeds and sometimes other plant material and invertebrates.The mouse hops, leaving bipedal tracks. The females are known to construct elaborate communal burrow systems.^[6]

Threats to this species include habitat alteration, such as changes in the fire regime and the effects of livestock. Feral cats watch the burrows and may consume several individuals in a night.^[7]

A national recovery plan for the Northern Hopping-mouse was prepared in 2004.^[8] It is highly elusive and 'trap-shy'. Recent surveys have been undertaken using camera traps and radio-tracking.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: taxonomy . Taxonomy browser (Notomys aquilo) . 2024-09-14 . www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
2. Book: Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference . 2005 . Johns Hopkins University Press . 978-0-8018-8221-0 . Wilson . Don E. . 3rd . Baltimore . ocm57557352 . Reeder . DeeAnn M..
3. Web site: Marie . Elisabeth . 2024-02-05 . Why don't people care as much about Australia's native rodents? . 2024-09-14 . Australian Geographic . en-US.
4. Web site: Species Profile and Threats Database: Notomys aquilo — Northern Hopping-mouse, Woorrentinta . 14 September 2024 . Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . Australian Government.
5. News: 2019-02-01 . Tiny mouse in spotlight as Aboriginal rangers fight to save vulnerable species . 2024-09-14 . ABC News . en-AU.
6. Diete . Rebecca L. . Meek . Paul D. . Dickman . Christopher R. . Leung . Luke K.-P. . 2014 . Burrowing behaviour of the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo): field observations . Australian Mammalogy . en . 36 . 2 . 242 . 10.1071/AM13039 . 0310-0049.
7. Web site: November 2021 . Threatened species of the Northern Territory: Northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo . 14 September 2024 . Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security . Northern Territory Government.
8. Web site: National multispecies recovery plan for the Carpentarian Antechinus Pseudantechinus mimulus, Butler's Dunnart Sminthopsis butleri, and Northern Hoppingmouse Notomys aquilo : 2004 – 2008 . Dept. of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment . 10070/715106 . Darwin . 14 September 2024.
9. Diete . Rebecca L. . Meek . Paul D. . Dickman . Christopher R. . Leung . Luke K.-P. . 2016 . Ecology and conservation of the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo) . Australian Journal of Zoology . en . 64 . 1 . 21 . 10.1071/ZO15082 . 0004-959X.