Mammals
Natal Multimammate Mouse
Mastomys natalensis · also called African soft-furred rat, Natal multimammate rat
After the rains turn an African savanna green, Natal multimammate mice breed rapidly and spill into fields and villages, a small rodent whose booms can be felt by farmers and health workers alike.
Overview
The Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, is a Least Concern rodent found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Its fast breeding, outbreak years, and role as the main natural host of Lassa virus make it one of the continent’s most important small mammals for both agriculture and public health.
A small mouse with large consequences
Because it lives close to people and can reach high numbers, the multimammate mouse links wildlife ecology directly to crop losses and disease risk.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and often abundant across sub-Saharan Africa.
Natal Multimammate Mouse: common questions
Why is it called multimammate?
Females have many more pairs of nipples than most mice, and multimammate means having many mammary glands.
Why do multimammate mouse numbers boom?
Numbers can surge after good rains, because the mice breed rapidly when food is plentiful.
What is its link to Lassa virus?
It is the main natural host of Lassa virus in West Africa, which can spread to people through contact with its urine or droppings or contaminated food.
Where is the Natal multimammate mouse found?
It lives in savanna, grassland, farmland, and villages across much of sub-Saharan Africa.