Order : RODENTIA
Family : Muridae
Species : Haeromys spp.

Head-Body Length : Up to 7.7 cm (R. margarettae)
Tail Length : Up to 13.4 cm (R. margarettae)

Ranee mice are small, forest-dwelling rodents in the genus Haeromys. They are both terrestrial and arboreal in habits; they are adept climbers, particularly amongst low, tangled vegetation.

As of 2020, three species are formally recognised. One occurs in parts of north and central Sulawesi (Haeromys minahassae), Indonesia, which is documented up to elevations of 1000 metres. In the lowlands of Borneo there are two species, the Ranee Mouse (Haeromys margarettae) and the Lesser Ranee Mouse (Haeromys pusillus). The latter appears more rare than the former, but its range also extends to the island of Palawan, Philippines.

These are short, agile mice with a large head and a long tail covered with short, stiff hairs. They are able to cling to slender vines as they are equipped with an opposable big toe. Their fur is brown on the dorsum and flanks, and pale underneath.

They have been documented building spherical nests inside tree holes. In Sulawesi they are known to eat small seeds.

The range of these three species of mouse is probably underestimated; they are small, perhaps uncommon, and as a consequence appear to be little studied.

Figs 1 and 2 : Example of Ranee Mouse or Lesser Ranee Mouse from lowland forest in Sabah, Borneo.

All photos thanks to Oliver Wearn.


References :

Phillipps Q. & Phillipps K. (2016). Phillipps’ Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo and Their Ecology: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan. Second Edition. John Beaufoy Publishing. 400 pp.