The dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus), is a small rodent endemic to Australia, inhabiting desert regions characterised by sand dunes.

[6] The dusky hopping mouse has pale orange-brown upper parts, occasionally with grey tinged streaks.

[2][8] They have a well-developed throat pouch, with an opening surrounded by a fleshy margin with inward pointing, coarse white hairs.

[7][9] Its ears are large and furless for dissipating heat, and they have prominent dark eyes,[2][10] and strong incisor teeth.

[14] It does not appear to favour a particular vegetation type, occurring in dunes well-vegetated by canegrass (Zygochloa paradoxa), as well as degraded ecosystems dominated by ephemeral herbaceous species.

[20][22][2] They live in burrows consisting of vertical shafts with a series of entrances approximately 3 cm in diameter,[7][2] leading to a network of horizontal tunnels and chambers[3][4] extending up to 2m deep.

[22] Notomys species dig their burrows from below, resulting in an absence of loose sand surrounding the entrance holes.

[10] This species prefers to forage at night in sheltered microhabitats, rather than open areas, to avoid the risk of predation.

[4][8] Individuals can disperse over large distances to colonise isolated habitats, crossing areas of hard unsuitable substrate.

[35] Livestock, kangaroos and rabbits overgraze vegetation required for shelter and food sources,[20] leading to scalding, wind and sheet erosion and a shift from perennial, to less productive ephemeral plant species.

[14][26] However, higher annual rainfall and more productive ecosystems may buffer the effects of livestock, by providing more dependable and abundant resources, allowing mice to proliferate.

[14][33] Competition for food and habitat occurs with the house mouse (Mus musculus),[22] which increase in abundance more rapidly under favourable conditions, depleting resources and outcompeting the native mice.

[37] This species experiences natural population declines during dry periods, when food resources are limited, and increase strongly following rainfall events.

[19][22] Predation of hopping mice by dingoes intensifies under drought conditions, which may significantly impact populations.