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Northern grasshopper mouse

The northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster) is a North American carnivorous rodent of the family Cricetidae.[2] It ranges over much of the western part of the continent, from southern Saskatchewan and central Washington to Tamaulipas in northeast Mexico.[1]

Northern grasshopper mouse
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Onychomys
Species:
O. leucogaster
Binomial name
Onychomys leucogaster
(Wied-Neuwied, 1841)

Background information edit

The northern grasshopper mouse is found in North America, but primarily in dry areas. They are similar in body size to other mice; on average they are 164 mm (6.5 in) long and about 35 g (0.077 lb) in weight. The tail is most often less than 30% of the total body length, whereas other mice tend to have longer tails adding to long body lengths. The grasshopper mouse is a reddish-black/grey color with white hair on the belly. Unlike most rodents, this one has a mostly carnivorous diet mainly consisting of small insects, other mice, and even snakes; no more than a quarter of its diet is plant-based. This rodent is also nocturnal. Throughout the night, the grasshopper mouse makes high-pitched noises to claim its territory.

Habitat edit

This grasshopper mouse can be found in prairies with low grass, dry areas, and also pasture lands of the central and southwestern parts of the United States. O. leucogaster has been known to associate positively with black-tailed prairie dogs, possibly due to their preference for disturbed areas, suitable habitat in the form of burrows, or food supply.[3][4][5] The northern grasshopper mouse lives in burrows underground, by either digging its own or inhabiting burrows that have been disowned. These mice have a system of multiple burrows, with each burrow serving a different function. The nest burrow is the primary area of activity during the day; since they are nocturnal, they do not need to be in a burrow during the night. To keep moisture in during the day, they close up the opening. A retreat burrow serves for quick escape from predators. Its design is about 10 inches into the ground at a 45° angle. The cache burrow is used for storing seeds. The signpost burrows are small and filled with glandular secretions that mark the boundaries of their territory. All of these burrows are found within a large area of territory.[citation needed]

Reproduction edit

The northern grasshopper mouse has about two or three litters a year consisting of two to seven young, with the average being four. They have a gestation of 32–47 days, and the young are born in either late fall or early winter, between September and February. The male gathers and provides food for the female while she is pregnant and taking care of her young.[6] The northern grasshopper mouse is an altricial species; baby mice are naked with closed eyes when they are born, and weigh about three grams. Both sexes reach their sexual maturity at three months, but the lifespan of a typical mouse living in the wild is only a few weeks to a few months.

Diseases edit

Susceptibility studies on grasshopper mice from areas with plague and from those areas that have been historically free of plague by Thomas et al. (1988)[7] showed the animals from areas with a history of plague were more resistant to the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis than the animals from a historically plague-free area, hence they were considered to be a potential alternate host for plague. Grasshopper mice have also been shown to harbor 57 species of fleas, many of which are vectors of plague.[8] Given the abundance and diversity of fleas on the grasshopper mouse and their use of prairie dog burrows and interaction with other rodent species, they are considered to be important for the maintenance and transmission of plague in the prairie dog ecosystem.[5][9] They are also found frequently infected with another hemotropic intracellular pathogen Bartonella[5] and Ying et al. 2007[10] showed that they can acquire different strains of Bartonella from multiple rodent species.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Timm, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Onychomys leucogaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T15338A115127288. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15338A22354802.en. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  2. ^ Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1061. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Choate, J. R. and D. M. Terry. 1974. Observations on habitat preference of Onychomys leucogaster (Rodentia: Muridae) on the central Great Plains. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 76:263-265.
  4. ^ Stapp, P. 1997. Habitat selection by an insectivorous rodent: patterns and mechanisms across multiple scales. Journal of Mammalogy 78: 1128-1143.
  5. ^ a b c Bala Thiagarajan. 2006. Community dynamics of rodents, fleas and plague associated with the black-tailed prairie dogs. Doctoral dissertation submitted to Kansas State University.
  6. ^ Burt, W.H., R.P. Grossenheider. 1976. The Peterson Field Guide Series: A Field Guide to the Mammals. Peterson, R.A. (Ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, p.166-67.
  7. ^ Thomas, R. E., A. M. Barnes, T. J. Quan , M. L. Beard , L. G. Carter, and C. E. Hopla. 1988. Susceptibility to Yersinia pestis in the northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 24:327–33.
  8. ^ 6) Thomas, R. E. 1988. A review of flea collection records from Onychomys leucogaster with observations on the role of grasshopper mice in the epizoology of wild rodent plague. Great Basin Naturalist 48: 83-95.
  9. ^ Gage, K. L., and M. Y. Kosoy. 2005. Natural history of the plague: perspectives from more than a century of research. Annual Review of Entomology 50:505 - 528.
  10. ^ Ying, B., M. Kosoy, J. F. Cully, T. Bala, C. Ray, AND S. Collinge. 2007. Acquisition of non-specific Bartonella strains by the northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster). FEMS Micro. Ecol. 61 (3): 438–448.

External links edit

    northern, grasshopper, mouse, northern, grasshopper, mouse, onychomys, leucogaster, north, american, carnivorous, rodent, family, cricetidae, ranges, over, much, western, part, continent, from, southern, saskatchewan, central, washington, tamaulipas, northeast. The northern grasshopper mouse Onychomys leucogaster is a North American carnivorous rodent of the family Cricetidae 2 It ranges over much of the western part of the continent from southern Saskatchewan and central Washington to Tamaulipas in northeast Mexico 1 Northern grasshopper mouseConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder RodentiaFamily CricetidaeSubfamily NeotominaeGenus OnychomysSpecies O leucogasterBinomial nameOnychomys leucogaster Wied Neuwied 1841 Contents 1 Background information 2 Habitat 3 Reproduction 4 Diseases 5 References 6 External linksBackground information editThe northern grasshopper mouse is found in North America but primarily in dry areas They are similar in body size to other mice on average they are 164 mm 6 5 in long and about 35 g 0 077 lb in weight The tail is most often less than 30 of the total body length whereas other mice tend to have longer tails adding to long body lengths The grasshopper mouse is a reddish black grey color with white hair on the belly Unlike most rodents this one has a mostly carnivorous diet mainly consisting of small insects other mice and even snakes no more than a quarter of its diet is plant based This rodent is also nocturnal Throughout the night the grasshopper mouse makes high pitched noises to claim its territory Habitat editThis grasshopper mouse can be found in prairies with low grass dry areas and also pasture lands of the central and southwestern parts of the United States O leucogaster has been known to associate positively with black tailed prairie dogs possibly due to their preference for disturbed areas suitable habitat in the form of burrows or food supply 3 4 5 The northern grasshopper mouse lives in burrows underground by either digging its own or inhabiting burrows that have been disowned These mice have a system of multiple burrows with each burrow serving a different function The nest burrow is the primary area of activity during the day since they are nocturnal they do not need to be in a burrow during the night To keep moisture in during the day they close up the opening A retreat burrow serves for quick escape from predators Its design is about 10 inches into the ground at a 45 angle The cache burrow is used for storing seeds The signpost burrows are small and filled with glandular secretions that mark the boundaries of their territory All of these burrows are found within a large area of territory citation needed Reproduction editThe northern grasshopper mouse has about two or three litters a year consisting of two to seven young with the average being four They have a gestation of 32 47 days and the young are born in either late fall or early winter between September and February The male gathers and provides food for the female while she is pregnant and taking care of her young 6 The northern grasshopper mouse is an altricial species baby mice are naked with closed eyes when they are born and weigh about three grams Both sexes reach their sexual maturity at three months but the lifespan of a typical mouse living in the wild is only a few weeks to a few months Diseases editSusceptibility studies on grasshopper mice from areas with plague and from those areas that have been historically free of plague by Thomas et al 1988 7 showed the animals from areas with a history of plague were more resistant to the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis than the animals from a historically plague free area hence they were considered to be a potential alternate host for plague Grasshopper mice have also been shown to harbor 57 species of fleas many of which are vectors of plague 8 Given the abundance and diversity of fleas on the grasshopper mouse and their use of prairie dog burrows and interaction with other rodent species they are considered to be important for the maintenance and transmission of plague in the prairie dog ecosystem 5 9 They are also found frequently infected with another hemotropic intracellular pathogen Bartonella 5 and Ying et al 2007 10 showed that they can acquire different strains of Bartonella from multiple rodent species References edit a b Timm R 2017 errata version of 2016 assessment Onychomys leucogaster IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T15338A115127288 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T15338A22354802 en Retrieved 6 February 2023 Musser G G Carleton M D 2005 Superfamily Muroidea In Wilson D E Reeder D M eds Mammal Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference 3rd ed Johns Hopkins University Press p 1061 ISBN 978 0 8018 8221 0 OCLC 62265494 Choate J R and D M Terry 1974 Observations on habitat preference of Onychomys leucogaster Rodentia Muridae on the central Great Plains Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 76 263 265 Stapp P 1997 Habitat selection by an insectivorous rodent patterns and mechanisms across multiple scales Journal of Mammalogy 78 1128 1143 a b c Bala Thiagarajan 2006 Community dynamics of rodents fleas and plague associated with the black tailed prairie dogs Doctoral dissertation submitted to Kansas State University Burt W H R P Grossenheider 1976 The Peterson Field Guide Series A Field Guide to the Mammals Peterson R A Ed Houghton Mifflin Company Boston p 166 67 Thomas R E A M Barnes T J Quan M L Beard L G Carter and C E Hopla 1988 Susceptibility to Yersinia pestis in the northern grasshopper mouse Onychomys leucogaster Journal of Wildlife Diseases 24 327 33 6 Thomas R E 1988 A review of flea collection records from Onychomys leucogaster with observations on the role of grasshopper mice in the epizoology of wild rodent plague Great Basin Naturalist 48 83 95 Gage K L and M Y Kosoy 2005 Natural history of the plague perspectives from more than a century of research Annual Review of Entomology 50 505 528 Ying B M Kosoy J F Cully T Bala C Ray AND S Collinge 2007 Acquisition of non specific Bartonella strains by the northern grasshopper mouse Onychomys leucogaster FEMS Micro Ecol 61 3 438 448 External links editThe Mammals of Texas Online Edition Entry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Northern grasshopper mouse amp oldid 1137712334, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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