| Smoky mouse | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A female smoky mouse from the Grampians. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Pseudomys |
| Species: | P. fumeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudomys fumeus Brazenor, 1934 | |
Thesmoky mouse[2] (Pseudomys fumeus) is a species ofrodent in the familyMuridae native to southeasternAustralia. It was first described in 1934 and its species name isLatin for "smoky". As its name suggests, it is a grey-furred mouse, darker grey above and paler smoky grey below. Mice fromthe Grampians are larger and a darker more slate-grey above. It has a black eye-ring and dark grey muzzle. The feet are light pink, and the ears a grey-pink. The tail is longer than the mouse's body, and is pink with a brownish stripe along the top. Mice from east ofMelbourne average around 35 grams and have 107 mm long bodies with 116 mm long tails, while those from the Grampians are around 65 grams and have 122 mm long bodies with 132 mm long tails.[3]
The smoky mouse is currently rated as "vulnerable" and appears to be declining in numbers in the wild. Its range is fragmented and it appears to be extinct in some areas such as theOtway Ranges (not seen since 1985) andBrindabella Ranges (not seen since 1987). It is found in the Grampians,East Gippsland and far southeastern New South Wales (includingKosciuszko andSouth East Forest National Parks andBuccleugh State Forest). There are fewer than 2500 individuals left in the wild and all extant populations appear to be in decline. Vegetation changes, as well as feral cats, foxes and dogs appear to be the main causes.[4] There is an active recovery plan for the species, and there is active predator monitoring in the Yowaka and Waalimma sections of the South East Forest National Park.[5]
In February 2020 it was reported that researchers fromCharles Sturt University, found the death of nine smoky mice was from "severe lung disease" caused by smoke haze during the2019–20 Australian bushfires that containedPM2.5 particles coming from bushfires 50 kilometres away.[6] It was feared that theKosciuszko National Park population had been extirpated as a result of the bushfires, but individuals were rediscovered in June 2020.[7]
In other languages it has been calledfausse souris fuligineuse (French),raton bastardo fumoso (Spanish),[2] orkoonoom (?).[8]
