Rudd's mouse


Rudd's mouse or the white-bellied brush-furred rat is the only member of the genus Uranomys. This animal is closely related to the spiny mice, brush-furred mice, and the link rat.

Description

Head and body sizes range from 8.4-13.4 cm long. Tail length is 5.3-7.9 cm. Weight is 41-53 g. The hairs on the back of this species are stiff like the brush-furred mice, but not spiny as in Acomys. The belly is white and feet are covered in white hairs. Incisors project anteriorly.

Natural history

The animal is known across a wide range in Africa, but is never common. They are usually taken in savannah habitat. Rudd's mouse is thought to be nocturnal. It feeds predominantly on insects.