Latest Old World rats and mice Stories
Nine out of 10 drugs successfully tested in mice and other animal models ultimately fail to work in people, and one reason may be traced back to a common fact of life for laboratory mice: they're cold, according to a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Laboratory mice, which account for the vast majority of animal research subjects, are routinely housed in chilly conditions, which may affect their well-being as well as the outcome of research studies, said Joseph...
From miniature elephants to monster mice, and even Hobbit-sized humans, size changes in island animals are well-known to science. Biologists have long believed that large animals evolving on islands tend to get smaller, while small animals tend to get bigger, a generalization they call "the island rule." A new study by researchers at Duke University and the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, NC puts that old idea to the test in island and mainland rodents. "Some of the...
NAPA, Calif., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Airlines has recently announced changes to its pet transport policy that will increase the cost for military service members transporting their pets up to a whopping 1,300 percent! According to an article published in Stars & Stripes, military personnel transferring from the Asian Pacific region back to the United States currently pay an average of $283 to fly their pet home. The military contracts with United to...
It comes as a surprise to many that male house mice produce melodious songs to attract mates. Unfortunately for us, because the melodies are in the ultra-sonic range human ears cannot detect them. Through spectrographic analyses of the vocalizations of wild house mice, researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna have found that the songs of male mice contain signals of individuality and kinship. Their results appear in the journal Physiology & Behavior and in the...
While being referred to as a rat usually has negative connotations, a new study from the University of Chicago has revealed that rodents could be actuaally be generous and empathetic to their fellow creatures. According to a Thursday article by David Brown of the Washington Post, researchers at the university were attempting to find out whether or not one rat would release another from "an unpleasantly restrictive cage" if it had the opportunity. The answer, as it turns out, was yes. As...
BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Xcluder, the permanent rodent and pest barrier preferred by pest control professionals around the world, is now available for do-it-yourselfers. This easy-to-install fabric, placed in crevices, holes, spaces and around pipes inside and outside the home to create a permanent barrier against rats, mice and other pests, offers consumers a long-term, permanent solution with effectiveness unmatched in the industry. (Photo:...
BISMARCK, N.D., Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that winter has arrived, your RV is likely sitting in a covered garage somewhere. And hopefully it's not serving as a winter home for unwanted guests like mice, rats, and squirrels. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101007/CG78327LOGO) Rodents are notorious for chewing through vehicle wiring, plastic and rubber lines. They also leave a big mess behind, defecating on countertops, floors, and even in beds. If you haven't taken...
BISMARCK, N.D., Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- You paid a fortune for it; Camping gear, hunting gear, fishing gear, boating gear. But between seasons, you need to store it-- and that's great news for mice & rats looking for a place to set up winter camp. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101007/CG78327LOGO) They'll honor your generosity, and appreciate the undisturbed environment your hunting gear, sports attire, and remote cabin offers. They'll even leave a gift behind to...
BISMARCK, N.D., Oct. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- If you store your classic car, muscle machine, sportster, collector, or restored summer car over the winter, and think it's protected from mice by being locked in the garage or car shed, think again. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101007/CG78327LOGO ) An unused, protected vehicle or car puts up a gigantic "Welcome!" sign for mice and rats looking to come in out of the cold. They'll perform unthinkable acts in unimaginable places, and...
Latest Old World rats and mice Reference Libraries
The striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) has a range that extends from Eastern Europe to Japan, and includes Siberia and Taiwan. It prefers a habitat within cornfields and other agricultural fields or human populated areas, and forests. It has many synonyms, or other names, including Apodemus albostriatus given by Bechstein in 1801 and Apodemus volgensis given by Kuznetzov in 1944. This mouse can reach an average body length of up to 4.9 inches, with a tail length of up to 3.5 inches...
The armored rat (Hoplomys gymnurus) is the only species within the Hoplomys genus. It is native to Latin America, with a range that extends from northern Honduras into northwestern Ecuador. It prefers a habitat at altitudes of up to 2,600 feet. It resides in burrows that can be up to 6.6 feet in length, and these burrows are typically located near a water source. The armored rat bears spines across its back, resembling a porcupine, and indeed, they are more related to the porcupine than...
The Barbary striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys barbarous) is native to northwest Africa. Its range includes Algeria, Tunisia, and coastal Morocco. It was thought that this range also included Sub-Saharan Africa, although the populations occurring here are now considered a distinct species known as Heuglin's Striped Grass Mouse. Along with Heuglin's and Hoogstral's Striped Grass Mouse, the Barbary striped grass mouse bears fur that is both darkly and lightly striped, while most other members...
The sand rat (Psammomys obesus), also known as the fat sand rat, is found in North Africa, as well as the Middle East. Its range extended from Mauritania to the Arabian Peninsula. It prefers habitats within sandy deserts, but it can be found within saline marsh areas and areas with rocky ground. It will burrow under vegetation like saltbushes, where rats can often be found foraging. There are many medical uses for the sand rat. Because of their tendency to get diabetes mellitus when fed a...
The maned rat (Lophiomys imhausi), also known as the crested rat, has a range that includes Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda. It prefers a habitat located in highland forests and woodlands in these areas, while in Somalia and Ethiopia it prefers to reside in areas nearly at sea level. These rats will nest in hollow tree trunks or rocky areas, as well as within cliff-faces. The maned rat can reach a length of up to twenty-one inches, including the tail. The soft undercoat of...
