The heath mouse is a small rodent native to Australia. It grows to a weight of 55–90 g and a head and body length of 95–120 mm. The tail is hairy, non-annulated and 85–100 mm in length, with a distinct bicoloured pattern of dark above and white below. The body is quite stocky and the head is relatively large, with a blunt face, bulging eyes and relatively large, rounded ears. The coat has long black guard hairs and brown underfur, giving it a brindled appearance. The underparts are pale grey or white and the upper surfaces of the feet are covered with long grey hairs. Juveniles have a more sleek appearance than adults.
Heath Mouse |
Pseudomys shortridgei
Status: Endangered on the EPBC Act list
Government evidence of impact of climate change:
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Australian Government, Conservation Advice, Pseudomys shortridgei
Climate change Drying climate known current Climate change is a key threat to the heath mouse (increased future because the species abundance is related to rainfall occurrence and (Senior 2014).
However; given that the effects of climate change (which are predicted to be severe for this species Senior 2014 White pers. comm.; 2016) are likely to affect the entire Western Australian part of the distribution at the same time; and or the entire eastern (South Australia and Victoria) part of the distribution at the same time; the number of locations could be two.
The species has not been located in vegetation less than 10 years post fire and it has been known to attain high densities in heath 30 years post fire (DPAW 2012 Woinarski et al.; 2014).
Fire Increased fire known current The heath mouse preferentially inhabits vegetation of frequency and certain post fire ages (5 30 years) (Woinarski et al.; intensity 2014).
Altered fire regimes are a threat across the entire extent of the species range (Woinarski et al.; 2014); however; future fire regimes are uncertain.
An increased frequency of drought events will reduce the ability of the heath mouse and its habitat to recover from wildfire events (Senior 2014).
From this information; it may be inferred that extreme fluctuations do occur in this species in response to variation in fire impacts and rainfall.
Ensure that a high proportion of habitat is maintained with a post fire age sufficient to provide adequate cover for the heath mouse.
Physical and chemical damage (such as use of fire retardants) to habitat and individuals of the heath mouse must be avoided during and after fire operations.
It is considered that multiple high intensity fires within several years during a drought period would severely impact the ability of the heath mouse to recover and persist (Senior 2014).
Western Victoria is currently in a drought cycle and heath mouse abundance is currently declining and expected to continue to decline (Senior 2014).
Drought events have caused a contraction in the range of the heath mouse (White pers. comm.; 2016).
An increased frequency of drought events will reduce the ability of the heath mouse and its habitat to recover from wildfire events (Senior 2014).
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