Asia Minor spiny mouse  (Acomys cilicicus)

Description

The Asia Minor or Turkish spiny mouse is so-called as the back of both males and females are covered in coarse, inflexible spine-like hairs (3). The scientific name Acomys also refers to this feature; the word is derived from the Greek akoke meaning sharp point and mus, meaning mouse (4). The ears are large and erect, and the tail appears to be naked, and its scales are easily visible (3). Although spiny mice have traditionally been thought to belong to the same subfamily as rats and mice (Murinae), recent genetic studies have shown that they are, in fact, more closely related to gerbils (Gerbillinae) (5).

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