Tag: Southern Grasshopper Mouse

As with many rodents, southern grasshopper mice are extremely fertile and difficult to wipe out, even by humans.

The southern grasshopper mouse is fairly common throughout its range, but generally has low population densities due to its short reproductive life and unique testicular pauses.

Predators of the southern grasshopper mouse include raptors, snakes, and predatory mammals.

There are no conservation measures specific to the southern grasshopper mouse, but there are several protected areas within its range.

Young southern grasshopper mice immediately begin nursing from their mother, open their eyes at 2 weeks, and are weaned at 3 weeks.

The southern grasshopper mouse is an extremely aggressive predator and seizes its prey with a rush, killing with a bite to the head.

The southern grasshopper mouse has no specialized physiological adaptations to arid conditions and obtains moisture from food under natural conditions.

Southern grasshopper mice produce a loud, piercing wolf-like howl when faced with an adversary, while standing on their hind legs with their noses pointed upwards.

Female southern grasshopper mice become receptive at 6 weeks and are able to produce up to 6 litters in a year, but their reproductive life is short, few breeding in their second year.

The southern grasshopper mouse is notable for its resistance to venom as it routinely kills and eats Arizona bark scorpions, a species with a highly venomous sting.

The southern grasshopper mouse is not migratory and does not have seasonal movements.

As with all predators, southern grasshopper mice require large territories and guard them fiercely against all intruders.

Although Southern grasshopper mice protect crops from insects and rodents, they will also feast upon crops if their usual prey becomes scarce.

Southern grasshopper mice are capable of breeding year-round, but most reproductive activity occurs during the late spring and the summer.

There is sexual dimorphism displayed in the physiology of the southern grasshopper mouse as females are heavier and longer than males.

The southern grasshopper mouse is usually known to be a monogamous species with both, maternal and paternal, parental investment.

The southern grasshopper mouse is categorized in the order Rodentia and family Cricetidae, but is unique among other North American rodents due to its arthropod-heavy diet.

Southern grasshopper mice are cannibalistic and will kill other members of their species when threatened or in need of food.

The southern grasshopper mouse is listed as "Least Concern" due to its wide distribution, presumed large population, stable population trend, unlikeliness to decline, and no known major threats.

The southern grasshopper mouse nests in small underground burrows that were abandoned or taken by force.

While 10 subspecies of southern grasshopper mouse were recognized in 1975, ITIS currently recognizes 7 subspecies.

Southern grasshopper mice are omnivorous with 75-90% of their diet consisting of scorpions, grasshoppers, beetles, small vertebrates, and even other rodents.

The southern grasshopper mouse is covered with fine, dense, gray or pink-cinnamon fur with a distinct white underside.

Southern grasshopper mice are largely nocturnal and active year-round.

The southern grasshopper mouse is terrestrial and a good climber.

Due to their territorial, cannibalistic nature, southern grasshopper mice are solitary animals.

The southern grasshopper mouse inhabits temperate shrubland and desert habitats and prefers xeric areas at low elevations with low-moderate shrub cover.

The southern grasshopper mouse is a small, robust species that averages 9-13 cm. in length with a tail that is longer than half the length of its head and body.

The southern grasshopper mouse is found in the western and southwestern United States and in northern Mexico of North America.

Relative brain size in southern grasshopper mice tends to vary with food preferences as it's smallest in folivores and largest in generalists.