The great hopping mouse (''Notomys robustus'') is an extinct species of mammal native to Australia. It is known only from skulls found in owl pellets in the
Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges are the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts about north of Adelaide. The ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna.
The Adnyamathanha people are the Aboriginal group who have inhabi ...
. Some pellets also include bones of the introduced
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 ...
—indicating that it survived into historic times, possibly the second half of the 19th century. From the skull, it appears to have been relatively large (perhaps the size of
''N. amplus'' or a little more) and to have escaped collection by early 19th century naturalists by chance. From the location of the deposits it is assumed that it preferred clay rather than sandy soils. It is also commonly known as the broad-cheeked hopping mouse.
References
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q574954
Notomys
Mammals described in 2008