Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834)

Amr, Zuhair S., Abu, Mohammad A., Qumsiyeh, Mazin & Eid, Ehab, 2018, Systematics, distribution and ecological analysis of rodents in Jordan, Zootaxa 4397 (1), pp. 1-94 : 60-62

Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834)

Common Name: Yellow-necked field mouse.

Diagnosis: This species is a relatively small-sized mouse. Dorsal fur coloration is pale buffy-brown to fulvous yellowish brown. Hair basis is gray. Ventral color is white with an orange fulvous to yellowish brown small spot on the neck ( Figure 68 ). Head-body length between 89 and 106 mm and skull length of 25–27mm in adult specimens.

Young and immature specimens exhibit light yellow spot around the throat. Hind foot length averaged 22.8 mm. Tail is longer than head and body length. The skull is similar in structure to that of A. mystacinus , except smaller, tympanic bulla ranging between 4.81 and 5.3mm. Anterior palatal foramina are long 4.33–5.4mm. Posterior margin of the palatine and its passages into the medial pterygoid plates is rounded and narrow ( Figure 69 ).

Localities: Previous records. Birqish, Kufr Khall ( Abu Baker & Amr, 2008), New records, Dibbīn Forest Reserve, Ajlūn, Al Safa ( Figure 70 ).

Habitat: This mouse appears to be associated with broadleaved woodlands, and usually occurs in close proximity to arable farmland. It tends to be a forest edge species. The yellow-necked Field Mouse may also inhabit orchards, field margins, wooded gardens, hedgerows and buildings in rural areas. Yellow-necked mice are adept climbers. A. flavicollis was trapped around Jarash and Birqish areas in some disconnected forest patches consisting of Quercus calliprinos , Pistacia palaestina, Proterium spinosum and Cistus sp. It was found to coexist with A. mystacinus at higher altitudes, where tree-cover is more scare. Its burrows were identified on open soils, under bushes of Cistus sp. or rocks.

Biology: Breeding occurs from March or April until October, although under some circumstances breeding may occur throughout the year. Gestation lasts for about 25 days, and a female may give birth to 2–11 young. Juveniles were collected in May.

Remarks: Abu Baker & Amr (2008) gave a comprehensive treatment for this species. The karyotype consists of 24 pairs of chromosomes 2n=48 and NF=46. All autosomal chromosomes are acrocentrics (Sözen et al., 2008).

Figures

FIGURE 69. a. Dorsal, ventral, and lateral views of the skull. b. Upper maxillary teeth and c. Lower mandibular teethfor Apodemusflavicollis (after Abu Baker & Amr, 2008). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 70.Distribution of the yellow-necked field mouse,Apodemus flavicollis.

FIGURE68.The yellow-neckedfield mouse, Apodemus flavicollis, showing the brownspot around the neck (photoby Adwan Shehab, Mohammad Abu Baker)