Other common names of P. higginsi include Higgins' Mouse, Tasmanian Mouse, Tasmanian Pseudo-rat, and Long-tailed Rat. Pseudomys comes from the combined form of Greek pseudes meaning false and Latin mys (plural mus) meaning mouse. The name higginsi came from a physician and natural history dealer resident of Tasmania named E.T. Higgins. (Strahan 1995, Driessen et al. 1999)
Masked owls and Eastern quolls are the main predators of P. higginsi. Before settlement, it was determined that 44% of the masked owl's diet was P. higginsi but now it is only about 1%. This suggests that there was a higher abundance of long-tailed mice in the past. (Driessen et al., 1999). Specific anti-predator behaviors have not been reported for these mice, However, if they are alarmed they will explode from the area and leap about 30cm in any direction. This could be an adaptation to avoid the sharp talons of a predator.
Known Predators:
Pseudomys higginsi has soft fur that is grayish-brown above and white below. The young are more uniformly colored. The bicolor tail has the same coloration as the body. The tail is about 170 mm long, the head and body is about 130 mm long, and the hind foot length is about 33 mm. The slender, tapered tail is carried in a curved shape well above ground while in locomotion. Some P. higginsi have a white tip on the tail. The tail is likely used for balance. The hind feet and tail lengths are relatively longer than other species in the genus. Long-tailed mice weigh 60 to 70 g. The face is pointed and the eyes are set forward. The ears are large and rounded at 24 mm and when pressed forward will cover the eyes. The iris is dark brown and the nostril is pink and naked. There are four nipples prominent on the abdomen. The upper incisors are 4 mm above the gums and the anterior of the tooth is orange. The lower incisors are pale yellow and are 6 mm long. The cheek teeth are rooted and can be aged by wear. The dental formula is 1/1 0/0 0/0 3/3 = 16. There is no sexual dimorphism between male and females, however many female measurements slightly exceed male measurements. (Stoddart et al. 1993, Driessen et al. 1999)
Range mass: 60 to 70 g.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Maximum lifespan of P. higginsi in the wild is about 18 months. (Strahan, 1995)
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 18 months.
Pseudomys higginsi prefers areas with high annual rainfall such as rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests. They also can be found in wet scrub and eucalyptus scrub, but are rare or absent in dry forests, grasslands and low alpine vegetation. They are found between sea level and eleations of about 1,200 m. They create tunnels and runways in wet and shaded habitats under the moss-covered forest floor. They are known to retreat to holes in rotting stumps and logs. Pseudomys higginsi have been found in open to dense vegetation areas and also in undergrowth areas devoid of cover 0.5 m from the ground. (Driessen et al., 1999; Strahan, 1995)
Range elevation: sea level to 1,200 m.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest ; scrub forest
The long-tailed mouse (Pseudomys higginsi) is found on the island of Tasmania and is the only species of rodent endemic to Tasmania. Fossils have been found on the Australian mainland in Victoria and Eastern New South Wales that date back to the late Pleistocene. (Driessen et al., 1999)
Biogeographic Regions: australian (Native )
Other Geographic Terms: island endemic
Long-tailed Mice are opportunistic feeders and their main foods are monocotyledons, subterranean fungi, fruits of shrubs, and invertebrates. In the spring mosses and ferns are common and in the summer monocotyledons and dicotyledons are common. They will not have to drink water if succulent food is eaten. (Strahan 1995, Driessen et al. 1999)
Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: leaves; fruit; bryophytes
Primary Diet: omnivore
Pseudomys higginsi has an overlapping range with the velvet-furred swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus velutinus) in wet sclerophyll forests, and interspecific competition for space has been noticed. It is believed that swamp rats restrict access of P. higginsi to better microhabitat and food supply. (Monamy et al. 1999, Driessen et al. 1999)
Becuase of their dietary habits, these mice likely affect both the populations of predators and the plant community. They are likely seed dispersers.
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds
None known
Pseudomys higginsi has several ectoparasites that may affect humans and/or pets. The most conspicuous is the mite Laelaps calabyi. Other ectoparasites include a tick Ixodes tasmani, several fleas Pygiopsylla hoplia, Acanthopsylla rothschildi, and Stephanocircus pectinipes and a louse Hoplopleua calabyi. (Driessen et al., 1999)
See Reproduction.
Although this mouse is not thought to be as common as it once was, it is not under threat of extinction.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
The mating system and behavior of this mouse have not been characterized.
Pseudomys higginsi has a breeding season from November to April. The long-tailed mouse raises one to two litters in a season each with a litter size of 3 to 4 offspring. Gestation lasts for 30 to 34 days. Spontaneous ovulation occurs with an estrous cycle of about 10 days in adults. Population numbers increase after an extreme rainfall season. (Strahan, 1995; Driessen et al., 1999)
Young P. higginsi are born in natal fur with a head and body length one-third the size of the mother. The incisors erupt before birth and are directed inward. These inward incisors are used for firm attachment to mother’s teat. If there is danger, the mother can hurry away and not lose her young, who remain attached to the teats. The incisors will wear to normal rodent-like teeth as the young grow into adults.
At eight days P. higginsi can crawl even though their eyes aren't open yet. The eyes open at 15 days and the ears unfold at 18 days. The tail is short at birth but grows rapidly to equal head and body length by 18 days of age.
The mother leaves young in the nest while she forages. Neonates and are wholely dependent on the mother until 25 days, and at 33 days they are independent. The hind feet triple in size the first 5 weeks (35 days) to reach adult size. By 40 days P. higginsi is near adult size except for the tail, which grows until the 75th day. The first molt occurs at 50 days with the final adult coat at 100 days.
(Strahan, 1995; Driessen et al., 1995)
Breeding season: Reproduction can occur from November until April.
Range number of offspring: 3 to 4.
Range gestation period: 30 to 34 days.
Average weaning age: 33 days.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous
Average birth mass: 5 g.
Average number of offspring: 2.3.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 270 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 272 days.
As in all mammals, the female cares for the young by nursing them. P. higginsi mothers leave their altricial young in a nest while they go out to forage. The young are weaned around 33 days of age.
Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care
The long-tailed mouse (Pseudomys higginsi) is a native Australian mammal in the Order Rodentia and the Family Muridae. It is found only on the island of Tasmania. The long-tailed mouse is an omnivore that feeds on insects and a range of plants. It is found in forested areas, particularly in sub-alpine scree, and may live in burrows.
The species reaches a weight of about 70 grams. It is distinguished from other species by its two-tone tail, which is white on the underside and dark above. The tail is 1.3 times longer than the head and body combined. It is speculated that P.higginsi uses its tail for balance while leaping in habitat such as boulder screes.[2]
Fossils of this species have been found in Cloggs Cave, Buchan in eastern Victoria and were identified by palaeontologist Jeanette Hope. The date for the remains based on C-14 dating were between 12 and 20,000 years old.[3]
The long-tailed mouse ranges from sea level to approximately 1,200 m. and seems to prefer habitats that offer high rainfall, such as wet forests.[4] It is a habitat generalist which is resilient to environmental modifications. In a study of short-term responses of native rodents to various logging styles in old growth wet Eucalyptus forests, it was found that the long-tailed mouse was equally abundant across all forestry treatments and was positively correlated to reduced ground cover.[5]
Another study found that significantly greater numbers of long-tailed mouse were found in wet disturbed forests and that logging and harvesting did not effect the diversity of the local ecosystem.[6] A conservational study conducted in 2012 was able to compare the historical range of the long-tailed mouse to its current range to determine if this helped predict the risk of extinction.[7] Reduced geographic range size is often a strong predictor of species decline.[7] It was shown that despite modern habitat loss, the long-tailed mouse is less threatened than would be expected from just the loss of its historical habitat ranges.
The long-tailed mouse is an opportunistic generalist omnivore whose diet is seasonal and varies with local availability. Using fecal analysis, it was found to consume a wide range of plant matter, such as grasses, grains, bamboo, fruits, ferns, and mosses. It was also found to consume fungi and insects of wide varieties.[8]
The long-tailed mouse is a primarily nocturnal mammal but can also be active during the day.[4] It is found primarily in rainforest, wet scrub, eucalyptus scrub, sedgeland, and low alpine vegetation.[9]
Relevant abundance of the long-tailed mouse is correlated to several other species in its habitat. Lazenby et.al. was able to show across four independent sample areas that the abundance of the long-tailed mouse was correlated positively to swamp rats (Rattus lutreolus velutinus) and negatively correlated to feral cats (Felis catus). Tasmanian devils were also shown to have a negative effect on the long-tailed mouse and all other small mammal populations surveyed in this study.[10]
The long-tailed mouse breeds seasonally from September through June[11] Gestation generally lasts approximately 31–33 days, with an average litter of 3 young.[4] Young become fully independent 33 days after birth and reach adult size at approximately 40 days.[4] The tail will continue to grow until they are approximately 75 days old.[11] There is no significant sexual dimorphism in this species. However, there is some geographic variation in the species concerning overall body weight, hind foot length, and tail length.[11]
As a mammal, P.higginsi nurses their young from shortly after birth until weaning. The young fasten themselves to the nipples, which allow for the mother to take evasive actions when necessary.[12]
The long-tailed mouse (Pseudomys higginsi) is a native Australian mammal in the Order Rodentia and the Family Muridae. It is found only on the island of Tasmania. The long-tailed mouse is an omnivore that feeds on insects and a range of plants. It is found in forested areas, particularly in sub-alpine scree, and may live in burrows.
The species reaches a weight of about 70 grams. It is distinguished from other species by its two-tone tail, which is white on the underside and dark above. The tail is 1.3 times longer than the head and body combined. It is speculated that P.higginsi uses its tail for balance while leaping in habitat such as boulder screes.
Fossils of this species have been found in Cloggs Cave, Buchan in eastern Victoria and were identified by palaeontologist Jeanette Hope. The date for the remains based on C-14 dating were between 12 and 20,000 years old.
