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Acomys cilicicus
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Acomys cilicicus

mammal
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Quick Summary

Acomys cilicicus, also known as the Cilician spiny mouse, is a species of rodent belonging to the genus Acomys. These mice are characterized by their harsh, inflexible spiny hairs on their upperparts, large eyes and ears, and scaly tails that are shorter than or about as long as their body. The tail is brittle and can break off easily.1

Acomys cilicicus is known only from a single location in southern Turkey. Different authorities classify African spiny mice into various numbers of species, but analyses suggest they form a distinct subfamily, Acomyinae. Fossils indicate their ancestry dates back to the Late Miocene Epoch in Africa.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. African spiny mouse
  2. spiny mouse

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