Chihuahuan pocket mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chihuahuan pocket mouse |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Chaetodipus
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| Species: |
eremicus
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| Synonyms | |
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C. pencillatus eremicus |
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The Chihuahuan pocket mouse (Chaetodipus eremicus) is a small rodent. It lives in the southwestern United States and Mexico. This mouse was once thought to be a type of desert pocket mouse. But in 1996, scientists found it was its own special kind of mouse. They used DNA tests to figure this out.
About the Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse
Chihuahuan pocket mice are medium-sized rodents. An adult mouse is about 16 to 18 centimeters (6 to 7 inches) long. This measurement includes its tail. They usually weigh between 15 and 23 grams (about half an ounce).
Their fur is a sandy color mixed with black on their back and sides. Their belly and tail are white. The hairs on their rump are long and thin. Unlike some other mice, they do not have spines. Their tail is long, about 8 to 11 centimeters (3 to 4 inches). It has a fluffy tuft of white fur at the end.
What They Eat and How They Live
These mice are herbivores, meaning they eat plants. They mostly munch on seeds from plants like broomweed, mesquite, and creosotebush. If seeds are hard to find, they will also eat grasses.
Chihuahuan pocket mice are nocturnal. This means they are active at night. During the day, they rest in their burrows. A burrow is like an underground home. It has a main room and many tunnels. These tunnels lead to different openings on the ground. They close these openings during the day to stay safe.
They are most active in the spring. In the winter, they might go into a short sleep called torpor for a few days. This helps them save energy when it's cold. Breeding happens from February to August. Most baby mice are born around May. A mother mouse usually has three or four babies at a time.
Where They Live
The Chihuahuan pocket mouse lives in the Chihuahuan Desert. This desert stretches from western Texas and southern New Mexico in the United States. It goes through northern and central Mexico, reaching as far as San Luis Potosí.
These mice prefer to live in desert areas with soft or sandy soil. Sometimes, you might find them in grasslands or near river banks. The plants in their habitat are usually mesquite, creosotebush, catclaw, and prickly pears.
Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of the Chihuahuan pocket mouse:
- Chaetodipus eremicus eremicus: This type lives in most of the mouse's range.
- Chaetodipus eremicus atrodorsalis: This type is found in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
