Species: Onychomys leucogaster
Northern Grasshopper Mouse
Species
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Cricetidae
Genus
Onychomys
NatureServe
Classification
Other Global Common Names
souris à sauterelles
Informal Taxonomy
Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Rodents
Formal Taxonomy
Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Rodentia - Cricetidae - Onychomys - mtDNA-haplotypes define at least five discrete geographical subsets (Wyoming Basin/Interior Plains/Colorado Plateau, Columbia Basin/Great Basin, Gulf Coastal Plain, Chihuahuan Desert, and Western Deserts), corresponding with five inferred areas of endemism for biota restricted to arid and semiarid habitats in North America (Riddle and Honeycutt 1990). See Riddle and Choate (1986) for subspecific revisions.
Ecology and Life History
Migration
true - false - false
Non-migrant
true
Locally Migrant
false
Food Comments
Eats primarily animal material (70-90%), mostly arthropods (grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, larval Lepidoptera), also occasionally small rodents in winter. Plant matter is eaten, especially in winter, when insects unavailable; at that time may store seeds.
Reproduction Comments
Sexual activity begins at 3 or 4 months of age. Gestation lasts about 32-38 days. Most litters are born February-October, with a peak in June, July, and August. Litter size is 1-6. In the laboratory, up to six litters per year may be produced.
Ecology Comments
Usually occurs at relatively low densities, but may become a controlling factor for its prey items. Shrill whistles given on spring and summer nights, perhaps as territorial defense. Unusually large home range (estimated average 2.3 ha) for a small mammal.
Length
19
Weight
52
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-12
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-12
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
Conservation Status Map
<img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.AB=S3&CA.MB=S3&CA.SK=S3&US.AZ=S5&US.CA=SNR&US.CO=S5&US.ID=S4&US.IA=S3&US.KS=S3&US.MN=SNR&US.MT=S4&US.NN=S5&US.NE=S5&US.NV=S5&US.NM=S5&US.ND=SNR&US.OK=S3&US.OR=S4&US.SD=S5&US.TX=S5&US.UT=S4&US.WA=S3&US.WY=S5" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
Global Range
South-central Canada (southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and southwestern Manitoba) south through the Great Plains to northern Tamaulipas, Mexico. Extends west through the Great Basin and southwestern deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, and also occurs in the Rocky Mountains. See Riddle and Choate (1986) and Riddle (1995) for information on biogeography.