Spiny mouse
Genus of rodents / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The term spiky mouse refers to any species of rodent within the genus Acomys.[1] Similar in appearance to mice of the genus Mus, spiky mice are small mammals with bare tail which contains osteoderms, a rare feature in mammals.It was found on 20 February 2013[2] Their coats are endowed with unusually stiff guard hairs similar to the spikes of a hedgehog; this trait is the source of the common name, spiky mouse.
Quick Facts Spiky mouse Temporal range: Early Pliocene – Recent, Scientific classification ...
Spiky mouse Temporal range: Early Pliocene – Recent | |
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Eastern spiky mouse (Acomys dimidiatus) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Subfamily: | Deomyinae |
Genus: | Acomys I. Geoffroy, 1838 |
Type species | |
Mus cahirinus | |
Species | |
21, see text |
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Despite their anatomic similarity to members of the genus Mus, genetic evidence suggests that the African spiny mice may be more closely related to gerbils than to common mice.[3]