The hillock mouse Mus spicilegus (Muridae, Rodentia) in Ascania Nova and Kherson region

Abstract

The question of inhabitation of the hillock mice (Mus spicilegus Petenyi, 1882) in the reserve “Ascania Nova” and prevailing part of the Left Bank of the Lower Dnipro was remained debatable during the last century. The name of this species was occurred in scientific literature, but there was not spoken about hillocks. At the beginning of the ХХI century these mice judging by external demonstration of their vital activity have been appeared everywhere in agrocoenosis and got to the natural core of reserve. There are two versions of the population phenomenon are examined: either a species was present here constantly, but was too small in numbers, or its settling apart gradual from known location took place.

Keywords

• hillock mouse
• expansion
• kherson region
• diagnostic features