Arizona cotton rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arizona cotton rat |
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_(4-9-14)_78_circulo_montana,_patagonia_lake_ranch_estates,_scc,_az_-01_(13767813593).jpg) |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sigmodon
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| Species: |
arizonae
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The Arizona cotton rat or Colorado River cotton rat (Sigmodon arizonae) is a type of rodent. It belongs to the family Cricetidae, which includes many kinds of mice and rats. You can find this animal in parts of Mexico and the United States.
What Does It Look Like?
The Arizona cotton rat looks a lot like a typical rat. For a long time, people thought it was the same as the hispid cotton rat. But in 1970, scientists used genetic tests. These tests showed that it is actually a different species.
This rat has bristly, brownish fur on most of its body. Its belly is whitish, and its feet are grey. The tail is dark and scaly, with only a few hairs.
Adult Arizona cotton rats are about 25 to 36 centimeters (10 to 14 inches) long. This length includes their tail, which is about 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) long. They can weigh anywhere from 83 to 300 grams (3 to 11 ounces). Male rats are usually a little bigger than females. Otherwise, males and females look quite similar.
Female Arizona cotton rats have ten or twelve teats. This suggests they can have litters of up to ten or twelve babies. Scientists believe these rats can have babies all year long.
Where Do They Live?
The Arizona cotton rat lives in southern and central Arizona. You can also find it in the very southwest corner of New Mexico. In western Mexico, it lives from the state of Sonora down to Nayarit.
These rats prefer to live near fresh water sources. This includes rivers, streams, and other wet areas. They can be found in semidesert areas, open grasslands, or swampy places. They especially like areas with thick, tall grass.
There used to be five different groups, or subspecies, of Arizona cotton rats. Sadly, two of these groups are now extinct. This includes the original group, Sigmodon arizonae arizonae.
Today, three subspecies remain:
- Sigmodon arizonae cienegae - Found in Arizona and northern Sonora.
- Sigmodon arizonae major - Found in southern Sonora, Sinaloa, and Nayarit.
- Sigmodon arizonae plenus - Found in western La Paz County, Arizona.
