Mus platythrix, the flat-haired mouse or Indian brown spiny mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in India, where it is widely distributed throughout South India and central India.
Behavior
The ‘kall-eli (Tamil: கல் எலி, lit. “stone rat”), a local name in southern India, has been noted for arranging pebbles around its burrow entrances. This behavior may help deter predators and stabilize the burrow’s microclimate, with some chambers lined with stones that appear to serve as bedding.
References
- ^ Molur, S. (2016). “Mus platythrix“. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T13978A22406681. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13978A22406681.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). “Superfamily Muroidea”. In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1406. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.