Spiny mice

Heterospecific chemical signalling appears in studies of the temporal segregation of closely related species. Odour exposure was most effective in the taxon with labile features to its activity rhythm. Friedman et al. (1997) found such interactions in Golden Spiny mice (Acomys russatus). Exposure to odours from A. cahirinus, a co-existing sympatric, forced A. russatus to be active at less preferred times. Food niche specialisation, as well as differential activity rhythms, apply to co-existing species with narrow (plant) preferences (Petter and Peyrieras, 1970). All three species of Bamboo lemur (Hapalemur) overlap in selection of their... 

Janus C. (1988). The development of responses to naturally occurring odors in Spiny Mice, Acomys cahirinus. Anim Behav 36, 1400-1406. 

Spiny mice, Acomys cahirinus, use all senses interchangeably in locating prey (Langley, 1988). These are cases of adaptive redundancy at the level of the sensory modalities. As is well known, deaf-blind humans use smell and taste more. 

Spiny mice Acomys cahirinus Associate with familiar siblings anosmics do not discriminate Porter, 1986... 

Haim, A. and Fluxman, S. (1996). Daily rhythms of metabolic rates role of chemical signals in coexistence of spiny mice of the genus Acomys. Journal of Chemical Ecology 22, 223-231. 

Matochik, J. A. (1988). Role of the main olfactory system in recognition between individual spiny mice. Physiology and Behavior 42,217-222. 

Porter, R. H. (1986). Chemical signals and kin recognition in spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus). In Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, vol. 4, ed. D. Duvall, D. Miiller-Schwarze, and R. M. Silverstein, pp. 397-411. New York Plenum. 

Porter, R. H., McFadyen-Ketchum, S. A., and King, G. A. (1989). Underlying bases of recognition signatures in spiny mice, Acomys cahirinus. Animal Behaviours , 638-644. 

Like their fur, their tails are spiny. Notably, like lizards, their tails can be broken from their bodies rather easily. When a predator catches this mouse, it is often very surprised when it is left with only the animal s tail. Unlike lizards, however, the spiny mice can never grow tails to replace the ones they lose. 

CHEMICAL SIGNALS AND KIN RECOGNITION IN SPINY MICE (Acomys cahirinus)... 

What benefits, if any, accrue to spiny mice as a result of an ability to recognize their littermate siblings Detailed studies of free-living animals in their natural habitat, which would be necessary to provide ultimate answers to this question, have yet to be conducted. Nonetheless, the results of initial laboratory Investigations afford insights into the possible functional significance of kin recognition in cahirlnus. 

A variety of methodological approaches have been adopted in an attempt to elucidate the role of chemical cues in kin recognition in spiny mice (Acomys cahirlnus) e.g., observations of unrestrained social interactions ... 

Table 1. Summary of Data Implicating Olfactory Cues in the Mediation of Kin Recognition in Spiny Mice (Acomys cahlrlnus)... 

Porter, R. H., Tepper, V. J., and White, D. M., 1981, Experiential influences on the development of huddling preferences and "sibling recognition in spiny mice. Develop. Psychobiol., 14 375. 

Shafrir E, Ziv E, Kalman R (2006) Nutritionally induced diabetes in desert rodents as models of type 2 diabetes Acomys cahirimts (spiny mice) and Psammomys obesus (desert gerbil). Ins Lab Animal Res J 47(3) 212-224... 

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