The blue-gray mouse (''Pseudomys glaucus'') is an Australian rodent species that is only known by a few specimens found in
Eastern Australia
The eastern states of Australia are the states adjoining the east continental coastline of Australia. These are the mainland states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, and the island state of Tasmania. The Australian Capital Terr ...
, and since presumed to have become extinct.
Taxonomy
The species was described by
Oldfield Thomas in 1910.
The number of specimens identified as ''Pseudomys glaucus'' is limited to three, two found in the northeastern state of Queensland and a single specimen collected to the south at
Cryon in New South Wales.
Description
A species of ''
Pseudomys
''Pseudomys'' is a genus of rodent that contains a wide variety of mice native to Australia and New Guinea. They are among the few terrestrial placental mammals that colonised Australia without human intervention.
Natural history
This genus c ...
'', these Australian rodents resembled the familiar
house mouse
The house mouse (''Mus musculus'') is a small mammal of the order Rodentia, characteristically having a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a long and almost hairless tail. It is one of the most abundant species of the genus ''Mus''. Althoug ...
(''Mus musculus''). The body of ''P. glaucus'' was robust with fine and dense fur, white at the underside and a pale blue-grey colour over the upperparts of the fur. The measurement of each of the three known specimens was 95 millimetres for the head and body combined, with a white-haired tail that was slightly longer (100 mm.) The weight range was 25 to 30 grams.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q882869
Pseudomys
Mammals described in 1910
Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas
Extinct rodents
Rodents of Australia