NOTOMYS MITCHELLII
Mitchell's hopping mouse
  Classification Order Rodentia, Family Muridae.

Description The short, soft pelage is invariably pale in colour, either sand-coloured or pale brown, with the underside of the body greyish: the tail has a dark tuft of hair at the tip. The large ears are a distinctive feature. The hind legs are slender and long. Length of head and body up to 12.5 cm (4.9 in), tail to 15.5cm (6.1 in); weight 40-60 g (1.2-1.7 oz).
  Distribution Southern Australia.

Habitat Plains and grasslands with sandy soil.

Behaviour This mouse lives in a distinctive burrow that it digs in sandy soil; a tunnel leads from the entrance downward at an angle of 40 for about 5 feet and ends in a chamber where there is a nest lined with leaves and grass. Another tunnel leads from the nest towards the exit, almost vertically. Several may occur in one burrow. It feeds on various plant materials. It normally proceeds on all 4 legs, but if alarmed it makes im-pressive hops over considerable distances. (It can also hop sideways.) It is nocturnal and by day remains hidden in its bur-row, which it often shares with the two species of marsupial mouse, Antechinomys. After 38-40 days of gestation, 1-5 sparsely furred young are born. Their eyes open by 20 days, -and weaning may occur at about 30 days. Females can breed at about 3 months.