We have a mischief of 11 African pygmy mice here at Paignton Zoo. They currently live in the Small Mammal House opposite the echidna and potoroo exhibit.
You can visit our pygmy mice in the newly re-opened Small Mammal House, where they are live opposite our echidna and potoroo shared exhibit. Due to the shy nature of these animals, we are going to be limiting access to 2:30-5:30pm through the summer, to allow them to acclimatize to the noise.
African pygmy mice are native to sub-Saharan Africa, where they inhabit both lowland and mountainous areas. They can be found in forests, savannahs, areas with shrubby vegetation and grasslands.
Interesting facts!
- One of the world’s smallest mammals, an average African pygmy mouse weighs slightly less than a £1 coin, and has a total length, including its tail, similar to your index (pointy) finger.
- Despite their small size, pygmy mice differ from most other mammals in a very big way. In most species of mammal, sex is determined by the Y chromosome, but in pygmy mice the reverse is true and it’s the X chromosome that decides whether a mouse is male or female.
- Small animals tend to be quite shy (so predators don’t find them) so it may take a while to spot our pygmy mice. When they do move, they tend to move very quickly, and they’re also very good climbers, so look everywhere!
Conservation
The African pygmy mouse is currently listed as a Least Concern species, due to its wide distribution and its estimated large population.
However, it’s worth noting that their population is decreasing in some regions due to habitat loss and the pet trade.