Macedonian Mouse

distribution

Distribution: Status uncertain, probably abundant, and widely distributed in rural areas, but does not occur close to human settlements (Fig. 40). Previous records: Aleppo (Harrison & Bates 1991), Qater Maghara and el- Ukersheh (Shehab et al. 2004).

Checklist of Mammals of Syria

discussion

Discussion: Subgenus Mus. Originally described as a subspecies of M. hortulanus (Petrov and Ruzic, 1983), but now recognized as a separate species (Boursot et al., 1993; Bonhomme, 1986; Macholán, 1996 a, 1996 c; J. T. Marshall, Jr., 1998; Sage, et al., 1993; and references cited therein). Mus macedonicus was first recognized as a distinct species by Kratochvil (1986), who monographed it as M. abbotti, the name still used by some researchers (Cheylan, 1991; Mezhzherin and Kotenkova, 1992; Orlov et al., 1992 b, Gromov and Erbajeva, 1995, e. g.), but the holotype of abbotti is an example of M. musculus domesticus (Boursot et al., 1993; J. T. Marshall, Jr., 1998). The taxon tataricus, another synonym of M. musculus domesticus, has also been used by Russian researchers for M. macedonicus (Mezhzherin and Kotenkova, 1992; Kotenkova and Bulatova, 1994; also see discussion in Mitchell-Jones et al., 1999: 284). Orlov et al. (1992 b) described makovensis as a subspecies of M. abbotti. Mus macedonicus occurs sympatrically, but never syntopically, with M. musculus domesticus (Auffray et al., 1990 b; Macholán, 1996 a; Petrov and Ruzic, 1985: 234), and is sympatric with M. spicilegus in a narrow

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

distribution

Distribution: Mediterranean environments in the Balkan Peninsula (Macedonia, Bulgaria south of the Stara Planina Mtns to Greece and some Aegean islands; Mitchell-Jones et al., 1999: 285; Peshev, 1996; Petrov, 1992), Turkey, Transcaucasia (Gromov and Erbajeva, 1995, as abbotti), N and W Iran (see map in J. T. Marshall, Jr. 1998), Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel (Auffray et al., 1988, 1990 b); see Macholán (1996 a) for distributional details. Recorded also from Cyprus (Cheylan, 1991, as abbotti; Cucchi et al., 2002).

Order Rodentia - Family Muridae

biology_ecology

Habitat. The Macedonian Mouse avoids forests but can be found in various environments from sand dunes to shore vegetation (lakeside and river reed vegetation), as well as cultivated areas (orchards, cultivated fields, gardens, shrubby places) at elevations of up to 1500 m. It is never trapped inside houses. Food and Feeding. Diet is composed of seeds and other vegetarian matter. Breeding. Reproduction occurs during spring and summer. In the Balkans, the number of embryos varies from four to ten (average 6 - 7) and from five to nine in Anatolia (average 7). Activity patterns. The Macedonian Mouse is terrestrial and nocturnal. Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Muridae