Plains harvest mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plains harvest mouse |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Reithrodontomys
|
| Species: |
montanus
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The plains harvest mouse is a small rodent that lives in parts of northern Mexico and the central United States. Its scientific name is Reithrodontomys montanus.
About the Plains Harvest Mouse
Plains harvest mice are mostly grey. They have a darker grey stripe down their back. Their belly is whitish.
Their tail has short, thin hair. It is the same dark grey color as the stripe on their back.
These mice are quite small. Their body can be about 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) long. Their tail adds another 2 to 7 centimeters (1 to 3 inches).
Female mice are a bit heavier than males. Females usually weigh between 7.5 and 13.5 grams. Males weigh between 6.5 and 10.8 grams. Their fur is longer in winter, about 11-12 millimeters. In summer, it is shorter, about 6-7 millimeters.
Life Cycle
Plains harvest mice can start having babies when they are about 85 days old. A mother mouse carries her babies for about 21 days before they are born. She can have new litters of babies every 21 to 27 days.
In colder areas, like the central United States, these mice usually breed from June to August. In warmer places, like Central America, they can breed all year long. Female mice can feed their babies with milk in most months, except for August to October.
Newborn plains harvest mice are very tiny, weighing only about 1 gram. They are born without fur and cannot see. Their fur starts to grow in about 6 days. They open their eyes when they are 8 days old. They stop drinking their mother's milk after about 14 days.
It takes about 5 weeks for a young mouse to grow to its full adult size. When they are young, their fur is plain and thin. As they get older, their fur becomes shinier and thicker, like an adult's.
Where They Live and What They Eat
Plains harvest mice often live in grassy fields or prairies. This is because they mainly eat insects and seeds.
They build round nests that are about 10 to 11 centimeters (4 inches) wide. These nests are made of packed-down grasses and have one opening. In their habitat, there are usually about the same number of male and female mice.
Many different animals hunt these mice. Their main predators are not fully known. However, many meat-eating mammals, some reptiles, and amphibians will hunt and eat them.
