Mammals
Spinifex Hopping-mouse
Notomys alexis · also called spinifex hopping mouse
Under a desert moon in central Australia, a spinifex hopping-mouse bounds across the sand on its hind legs, a rodent that has taken the kangaroo’s way of moving and shrunk it to fit in a hand.
Overview
The spinifex hopping-mouse, Notomys alexis, is a Least Concern rodent native to the arid interior of Australia. Its hopping gait, water-saving body, and group burrows make it one of the best examples of how desert rodents on different continents have evolved in similar ways.
Desert life, Australian style
Kangaroo rats and jerboas live on other continents, yet the hopping-mouse has arrived at much the same solution to life on dry sand.
Status
Least Concern, common in suitable arid habitat.
Spinifex Hopping-mouse: common questions
Why is it called a hopping-mouse?
It moves in hops on its long hind legs, like a tiny kangaroo.
Does the spinifex hopping-mouse need to drink?
No, it produces very concentrated urine and can survive without drinking water.
Why do hopping-mouse numbers change so much?
Numbers can rise quickly after good rains and fall again in drought.
Where is the spinifex hopping-mouse found?
It lives on sandy plains and dunes with spinifex grass in the arid interior of Australia.