What is a spiny mouse?
Q: What is a spiny mouse?
A: A spiny mouse is any species of rodent within the genus Acomys. They are usually called spiny mice in English.
Q: How do spiny mice look like?
A: Spiny mice look like mice of the genus Mus. They are small mammals with bare, scaled tails. Their coats have unusually stiff guard hairs that work the same way as the spines of a hedgehog.
Q: Why are they called spiny mice?
A: They are called spiny mice because of the unusually stiff guard hairs in their coats that work the same way as the spines of a hedgehog.
Q: What is the difference between spiny mice and common mice?
A: Scientists think that the African spiny mice may be more closely related to gerbils than to common mice.
Q: What is the importance of the guard hairs of spiny mice?
A: The guard hairs of spiny mice are unusually stiff and work the same way as the spines of a hedgehog, which may help them defend against predators.
Q: Do all species of rodents belong to the genus Acomys?
A: No, not all species of rodents belong to the genus Acomys. Only those that have the characteristics of spiny mice are classified under this genus.
Q: Where can spiny mice be found?
A: Spiny mice can be found in various habitats across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
