ACOMYS CAHIRINUS
Egyptian spiny mouse

Description The upper parts of the body are brown, grey, or beige; the lower parts and underside are always white. The ears are large; the tail is hairless with large, conspicuous scales which are often split or broken. The coat has a hispid, or bristly appearance because of the presence of a great many hard and spiny outer hairs. Length of head and body 1 2 cm (5 in), tail the same; weight 60-90 g (2.1-3.2 oz).
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Habitat Rocky areas, sometimes with dense vegetation.

Behaviour The ecology of this gregarious mouse is similar to that of the house mouse (Mus musculus,), with which it competes for territory and sources of food. It prefers to eat plant matter, but adapts to anything edible. In desert and sandy areas it also competes with gerbils, and often uses their bur-rows. It is active early in the day and late in the afternoon and evening. Gestation lasts 36-40 days, and the young (2 or 3, at most 5) are born mainly in the spring and summer months; there are several lifters each breeding season. The female has 6 nipples and the male is sexually mature at the age of 7 weeks.