The Hastings River Mouse (Pseudomys oralis) is a species of rodent

Rodent

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....

 in the family Muridae

Muridae

Muridae is the largest family of mammals. It contains over 600 species found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. They have been introduced worldwide. The group includes true mice and rats, gerbils, and relatives....

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It is found only in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

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Habitat

These rodents often prefer damp and moist environments, along drainage lines if necessary. They can also be found in nests that are in tree hollows close to the ground, most likely in the eucalypt forests and are made of vast types of plant materials. There has been no evidence of whether the hasting river mouse nests with others or alone, but the rodent will live in any cavity that is close to the ground, even though tree hollows are the more known nesting site.

Ecological Role

Even though it is not known as to whether the hastings river mouse nests with other breeds of this rodent

Rodent

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....

 or individually, it is known that in captivity, the hastings river mouse can eat grain. In the wild, the species adapts well to the seasons by eating various plant materials in the summer and when winter comes, the diet is supplemented by fungi. http://www.australianfauna.com/hastingsrivermouse.php There is a breeding

Breeding

Breeding is the reproduction, that is, producing of offspring, usually animals or plants:* Breeding in the wild, the natural process of reproduction in the animal kingdom* Animal husbandry, through selected specimens such as dogs, horses, and rabbits...

season in the wild that occurs from August through March. There is also mating that occurs during the winter.

Population and Conservation Role

There is little known on the population of this species, as the species is both rare and elusive. The hastings river mouse is often found in New South Wales, Eastern Australia and Queensland in altitudes reaching 1200m. The hastings river mouse is easily handled by humans suggesting possible domesticity of this species.

Size & Biology

The body and head of this species measures about 145mm and the average tail measurement is about 140mm, slightly larger than most other mice. It also weighs an approximate 92g.