Geographic Range
Apodemus agrarius is found in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Southern Siberia, Manchuria, Korea, Southeastern China and Taiwan.
- Biogeographic Regions
- palearctic
- oriental
Habitat
Black-striped field mice are commonly found in grassy fields, cultivated areas, rice paddies, woodlands and forests.
- Terrestrial Biomes
- savanna or grassland
- forest
Physical Description
The dorsum of these mice is yellow-brown with a prominant black, mid-dorsal stripe. The total length of these animals ranges from 94mm to 116mm, of which 19mm to 21mm are tail. Females have eight nipples.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- bilateral symmetry
Reproduction
Mice of this species are capable of breeding throughout the year. Females can produce up to six litters, each of up to six young, annually.
- Key Reproductive Features
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
Lifespan/Longevity
Behavior
The black-striped field mouse is an agile leaper and swimmer. They dig burrows that they inhabit during the nighttime hours. Most individuals live their entire lives and die within 180 meters of their birthplace.
- Key Behaviors
- motile
Communication and Perception
Food Habits
These mice are very adaptable in their dietary habits. They eat roots, grains, seeds, berries nuts and insects.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
These mice frequently cause damage to crops or raid food stores. They are also potential carriers of hemorragic fever.
Conservation Status
Additional Links
Contributors
Nancy Shefferly (author), Animal Diversity Web.
- Palearctic
-
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- tropical savanna and grassland
-
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
- savanna
-
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
- temperate grassland
-
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
References
Corbet, G.B. and J.E. Hill. 1992. Mammals of the Indomalayan Region. Oxford University Press.
Nowak, R.M. and J.L. Paradiso. 1983. Wlaker's Mammals of the World, Fourth edition. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, London.