Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Heteromyidae |
| Genus: | Heteromys |
| Species: |
H. spectabilis
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| Binomial name | |
| Heteromys spectabilis (Genoways, 1971)
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The Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse (Heteromys spectabilis) is a special type of rodent that lives only in Mexico. It's called "spectabilis" because this word means "striking" or "remarkable," which describes its bright fur! This mouse used to be in a different group, but now scientists know it belongs with other Heteromys mice.
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About the Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mouse
The Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse is quite big for a mouse. Its body is about 12 to 14 centimeters (5 to 5.5 inches) long. Its tail is usually about the same length as its body.
Male mice are a bit heavier than females. Males weigh around 68 grams (2.4 ounces) on average. Females are smaller, weighing about 51 grams (1.8 ounces).
What Does It Look Like?
This mouse has reddish-brown fur on its back and sides. Underneath, it has soft hair, but most of its fur is made of stiff, spiny hairs. It also has a bright yellow-orange stripe along its sides. Its belly is white.
Where Does It Live?
You can only find the Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse in a small area of southeast Jalisco, Mexico. It likes to live in dry areas and oak forests. These mice are often found where there are low bushes or grass. They can also live in farm fields. They live at altitudes between 950 and 1615 meters (3,117 to 5,300 feet) high.
Scientists don't know a lot about their daily lives. However, one female mouse was found to be pregnant with five babies in September. There are no different types or subspecies of this mouse.
Its Family Tree
The closest relative to the Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse is the painted spiny pocket mouse. Long ago, their ancestors split into two groups. This happened because the climate changed. The painted spiny pocket mouse ended up living near the coast of western Mexico. The Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse stayed in the inland areas.
Why Is It Endangered?
Sadly, the Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse is in danger. One big problem is habitat loss. This means their homes are being destroyed. People are cutting down the pine-oak forests where these mice live.
Even though Mexican law protects this species, their numbers are dropping fast. Their homes are also becoming very spread out and broken up. This makes it harder for them to find food, shelter, and other mice to mate with.
 | May Edward Chinn |
 | Rebecca Cole |
 | Alexa Canady |
 | Dorothy Lavinia Brown |
