View source for Asia Minor spiny mouse

{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Asia Minor spiny mouse
| image = Muridae - Acomys cilicicus.jpg
| image_caption = at the [[Prague Zoo]]
| status = DD 
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Gerrie, R. |author2=Kennerley, R. |date=2019 |title=''Acomys cilicicus'' |volume=2019 |page=e.T264A22453458 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T264A22453458.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Acomys
| species = cilicicus
| authority = Spitzenberger, 1978
| synonyms = 
}}

The '''Asia Minor spiny mouse''' ('''''Acomys cilicicus''''') is a species of [[rodent]] in the family [[Muridae]].<ref name = MSW3>{{MSW3 Muroidea | id = 13001004 | page = }}</ref>

==Description==
''Acomys cilicicus'' is a small terrestrial and social rodent, living in large groups. The head and the body reach a length of {{convert|104|-|121|mm|abbr=on}}, with a tail of about {{convert|102|-|117|mm|abbr=on}} and a weight up to 48 g.<ref name=Aula>Stephan Aulagnier & Al. - Guide des mammiferes d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du Moyen-Orient - Delachaux & Niestlé SA, Paris</ref>

The upper side of the body is dark gray, with purple reflections, while the lower sides are yellowish-white and the flanks are light brown. The tail is hairless, scaly and shorter than the head and body. The chromosome number is 2n = 36.

In captivity, these mice reproduce and live for about four years. Since this species was previously considered endangered, a protection program is in place and government permission is needed for export from Turkey. Only a few zoos in the world have individuals of this species (Chester, Riga, Prague, Tallinn and Helsinki Zoo).

This species is related to the Cairo spiny mouse (''[[Acomys cahirinus]]'') and the Cyprus spiny mouse (''[[Acomys nesiotes]]''), but significant morphological differences are seen.
{|
||[[File:Zoo Praha 0804.jpg|thumb|240px|left|''A. cilicicus'']]
||[[File:Acomys.cilicicus.7029.jpg |thumb|240px|left|''A. cilicicus'']]
||[[File: Acomys cilicicus Okahiiri Asia Minor Spiny Mouse C DSC03671.JPG|thumb|200px|left|''A. cilicicus'' in Africasia House at Korkeasaari Zoo in Helsinki]]
|}

==Distribution== 
This species is endemic to [[Turkey]]. It is known only from the type locality 17&nbsp;km east of the Turkish town of [[Silifke]], located in the south-west of [[Mersin]], along the southern coast of [[Turkey]].

==Habitat==
Its natural [[habitat]] is temperate [[forest]]s, but this species is also lives close to human dwellings.

==Conservation status==
''A. cilicicus'' was previously listed as Critically Endangered, but is now considered Data Deficient because of taxonomic issues, as it may be the same species as the widespread and common northeast Cairo spiny mouse, ''A. cahirinus''.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=13001004 Mammals species of the World]
* {{Catalogue of Life| Acomys | cilicicus}}
* {{NCBI taxid|83530|''Acomys cilicicus'' }}
* {{ARKive|3=Asia Minor spiny mouse ''(Acomys cilicicus)''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1769237}}

[[Category:Acomys]]
[[Category:Fauna of Turkey]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of Turkey]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1978]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]