Lives in arid areas of south-western Africa, where it readily tolerates the scarcity of water characteristic of desert and dry scrubland. It is one of three pygmy mice that coexist in southern Africa, often confused with one another in the field to the extent that only careful dental examination allows reliable identification.
Very small mouse, one of Africa's tiny roe-like rodents. Greyish-brown to sandy pelage. Practically indistinguishable to the naked eye from other pygmy mouse species in the region; reliable identification requires dental or genetic examination.
Tiny track, rarely visible except on very fine substrates. Excavates shallow burrows or uses natural shelters under scattered scrub.
Arid savannah and upland grassland in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Seeds and small insects.
Solitary and nocturnal, well adapted to the water scarcity of its arid habitat.
The species maintains a large, stable population across most of its distribution, with no evidence of widespread decline.
No widespread threats identified.
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