Spinifex Hopping Mice
by Miroslava Jurcik
Title
Spinifex Hopping Mice
Artist
Miroslava Jurcik
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
This tiny Australian native mouse has the distinction of having the most efficient kidneys and the most concentrated urine of any mammal ever recorded in the entire world. It has another extraordinary adaptation to desert life, when the temperature in its burrow reaches above 38o C, the normal temperature of the mouse, it is unable to lose heat by sweating because the air in the burrow is near saturation, it simply becomes hyperthermic, raising its body temperature above the ambient temperature, so that the ambient temperature seems cooler to it.
It looks like the leaf is poking her in the eye, but she just stopped to have a nibble at it and her eye was completely safe. She runs fast and stops just as fast.
THe is mouse is from my collection of Wildlife Sydney at Darling Harbour.
Uploaded
April 13th, 2018
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Viewed 1,176 Times - Last Visitor from Melbourne, FL on 04/15/2024 at 8:40 PM
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Comments (31)
Elizabeth Winter
What a capture! Fast, tiny animals are so hard to capture! Nicely done Miroslava! f/v
Mary Machare
Wonderful detail in this capture and an excellent description of this adorable creature! LF
Angela Davies
Such interesting information on how this little fellow survives extreme heat, great close up! LF
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