What Kinds of Mice Live in the African Grasslands?

The African grasslands, also known as the African savanna, are home to thousands of different animal species. The savanna is located between the tropical rain forests and deserts of Africa. Savannas have warm wet summers and cold dry winters. There are several different species of mice living in the African savanna.

  1. Bastard Big-footed Mouse

    • The Bastard Big-footed Mouse (Macrotarsomys bastardi), also known as the Malagasy Mouse, is a native to Madagascar and belongs to the Nesomyinae sub-family. The bastard big-footed mouse has gerbil-like features and brown fur. These mice can be found living in pairs in forests, shrub lands, grasslands and wetlands. Their food habits are herbivorous and insectivorous with some having more omnivorous eating tendencies. Snakes and owls are the main predators of these mice.

    Long-Tailed Field Mouse

    • The long-tailed field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), also known as the wood mouse, enjoys grassy fields where it can find an abundance of roots, grains, berries and nuts to feed on. They can also be found in cultivated areas, woodlands and forests. The body of this mouse is covered with soft gray or brown fur with some yellowish and reddish variations. This field mouse plays an important role in its habitat, burying tree seeds deep into the grasslands. Owls, fox, weasels and badgers are the main predators of these mice.

    Barbary Striped Grass Mouse

    • The Barbary striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys Barbarus), also known as the African striped grass mouse or zebra mouse, is a native to the African savanna. Its body is brown with white stripes. Barbary striped grass mice eat roots, grains, leaves, seeds, nuts, fruits and berries. They also eat small invertebrates such as ants and crickets. The male mouse of this species reaches sexual maturity at 10 weeks old. These mice have a very short lifespan: only six months in the wild.

    Yellow-Necked Field Mouse

    • The yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollus) is considered a twin species to the long-tailed field mouse. It inhabits the grasslands of North Western Africa. Its fur is soft with color variations ranging from brown to red. It has a yellowish collar of fur around its neck which is hardly noticeable at first glance. This mouse species eats seeds, berries and small invertebrates. They store their food in underground tunnels. In order to get the most nutrients from their food, this mouse will eat its feces as it is released from the body. Snakes, owls and small carnivorous mammals prey on these mice.

    African Climbing Mouse

    • The African climbing mouse (Dendromus kahuziensis) is native to the African Sahara. It can also be found in swamps and wetlands. The mouse's fur varies in colors ranging from brown to gray to red. These mice have thick layers of fat under their skin which allows their bodies to feed from its reserves in its dormant months. Some of these mice have stripes on their back. Its long, narrow hind feet allow it to swiftly jump and sprint from predators. The African climbing mouse is omnivorous, eating bird eggs, insects, nuts, fruit and small lizards. These nocturnal rodents were added to the "Endangered Species" list in 2004.