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The Malabar Spiny Dormouse (Platacanthomys lasiurus) is a unique species of muroid rodent endemic to the Western Ghats of India. It is the only living member of the genus Platacanthomys. It is about the size of a Brown Rat and lives in tree holes in colonies. The distinguishing feature of the species is the spiny fur, clawless hallux and a bushy tail and prominent ears.
In Kerala it is called Mutteli or Mulleli. The species is found in tropical moist deciduous and tropical evergreen forests. It feeds on Terminalia bellerica, Persea macarantha and pepper and to some extent. Due to their habit of feeding on pepper, these animals are considered as pests. Loss of habitat and poaching are the serious threats to the survival of the species.
A detailed study on Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Trivandrum District, Kerala was carried out during the period March 1993 to March 1996 (Jayson, 1998). During the fieldwork of the study, Malabar Spiny Dormouse was recorded from this area after a gap of forty years.[1]
Notes
- ^ Jayson, E.A. and Christopher, G. 1995. SIGHTING OF SPINY DORMOUSE (Platacanthomys lasiurus) BLYTH, 1859 IN PEPPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, TRIVANDRUM DISTRICT, KERALA. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society. 92(2): 259.
References
- Jayson, E.A. and Christopher, G. 1995. SIGHTING OF SPINY DORMOUSE (Platacanthomys lasiurus) BLYTH, 1859 IN PEPPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, TRIVANDRUM DISTRICT, KERALA. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society
- Jayson E.A. 2006. Status, distribution, food and feeding of Malabar Spiny Dormouse (Platacanthomys lasiurus Blyth) in the Western Ghats of Kerala. KFRI Research Report No. 293. Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi. 118 p.
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