Cape spiny mouse

The Cape spiny mouse (Acomys subspinosus) is a small rodent native to South Africa, characterized by harsh, inflexible spiny hairs on its upperparts. It is part of the genus Acomys, which includes over a dozen species of African spiny mice. These mice have large eyes and ears, and their tails are scaly, nearly bald, and shorter than or equal to their body length. The tail is brittle and easily breaks off.1

Cape spiny mice are omnivorous, with plant matter forming the majority of their diet. They are ground dwellers and primarily nocturnal, though some species are active in the early morning and evening. A notable characteristic of some spiny mouse species is their ability to shed patches of skin when escaping predators, with wounds healing rapidly. Different authorities classify the African spiny mice into 14 to 19 species, with the genus forming a distinct subfamily, Acomyinae.1