3.

Cyprus Spiny Mouse

Acomys nesiotes

French: Acomys de Chypre / German: Zypern-Stachelmaus / Spanish: Raton espinoso de Chipre

Taxonomy. Acomys nesiotes Bate, 1903,

near Dikomo, Kerynia Hills, Cyprus.

Similar to A. minous and A. cilicicus, taxonomy of Acomys nesiotes has been debated because of taxonomic issues within the A. dimidiatus — cahirinus species complex. Some authors found A. nesiotes close to A. dimidiatus, but others associated it with A. cahirinus. G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005 considered it a valid species because ofits distinct chromosomal complement (2n =38, FNa = 66), morphological characteristics, and its isolation on Cyprus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known from 14 localities on N & S coasts of Cyprus;its absence elswhere on Cyprus may result from a sampling bias.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 97-135 mm, tail 91-118 mm, ear 17-22 mm, hindfoot 18-8-22 mm; weight 31-70 g. The Cyprus Spiny Mouse is larger than the Northeast African Spiny Mouse (A. cahirinus) and the Turkish Spiny Mouse (A. cilicicus). Tail of the Cyprus Spiny Mouse is thick and short (71-5-94-2% of head-body length, average 84%). Dorsum is dark brown, mixed with gray hairs and paler spines; underparts are white. M? is significantly longer than in the Northeast African Spiny Mouse and the Turkish Spiny Mouse.

Habitat. Rocky areas with shrubs, “maquis” shrubland with evergreen live oak (Quercus, Fagaceae), or woodlands from sea levelto elevations of ¢.1200 m. Cyprus Spiny Mice have also been collected in forests with rocky soils. Although not commensal, they have been collected not far from a village in rocky hills with sparse low thorny plants, but they have never been found in houses. They live in deep holes and can be found in caves and shelters for goats in the hills.

Food and Feeding. The Cyprus Spiny Mouse eats bark and leaves of carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua, Fabaceae).

Breeding. Reproduction occurs in April-October. Numbers of embryos are 1-4/female (mean range 2-1-2-9). Postpartum estrus and embryo resorption were observed. Annual mortality was very high, and few young-of-the-year survive.

Activity patterns. The Cyprus Spiny Mouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Cyprus Spiny Mice never occurred in high densities (1-3-4 ind/ha). Males seem to have larger home ranges than females, which are sedentary.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Reassessment of the Cyprus Spiny Mouse would probably result in classification as Endangered because of its small fragmented populations and human pressure on the island. It also competes with introduced Roof Rats (Rattus rattus).

Bibliography. Bate (1903), Denys et al. (1994), Frynta et al. (2010), Krystufek & Vohralik (2009), Musser & Carleton (2005), Spitzenberger (1978), Verheyen et al. (2011), Watson (1951), Zima et al. (1999).