Onychomys arenicola (Mearns, 1896)

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 373

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6707142

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6726077

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F06D13-FFF1-2038-0DB0-1F8A0064F95A

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Onychomys arenicola
status

 

241.

Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mouse

Onychomys arenicola View in CoL

French: Onychomys des sables / German: Chihuahua-Grashlipfermaus / Spanish: Raton saltamontes de Chihuahua

Other common names: Mearns's Grasshopper Mouse

Taxonomy. Onychomys torridus arenicola Mearns, 1896 View in CoL , 6 mi (= 10 km) above El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, USA.

Onychomys arenicola was initially described as a subspecies of O. torridus , but it was later recognized as a distinct species based on karyotypic differences. Three subspecies were placed under O. arenicola when it was recognized as a species. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

O. a. arenicola Mearns, 1896 — SE Arizona, SC New Mexico, and W Texas, USA (type locality — 6-0 mi above El Paso, Texas, USA).

O. a. canus Merriam, 1904 — portions of Aguascalientes, Durango, San Luis Potosi, and Zacatecus, Mexico (type locality — San Juan Capistrano, Zacatecus, Mexico).

O. a. surrufus Hollister, 1914 — portions of San Luis Potosi, and Tamaulipas, Mexico (type locality — Miquihuana , Tamaulipas, Mexico). View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head—body 85-104 mm, tail 46-55 mm, ear 16-22 mm, hindfoot 18-22 mm; weight 21-29 g. The Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mouse is similar to the other two species of Onychomys but slightly smaller in size than the Northern Grasshoper Mouse ( O. leucogaster ). Dorsum is opaque brown, with intermingled darker hair resulting in grayish appearance. Venter and feet are white. Tail ranges from gray to brown and is white-tipped. Ears are brown, trimmed with white hair.

Habitat. Grassy areas and xeric scrublands with sandy or rocky soils along slopes and foothills, typically including creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata, Zygophyllaceae ) and other desert or semiarid vegetation, at elevations of 1300-1580 m.

Food and Feeding. The Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mouse eats beetles and other arthropods and invertebrates.

Breeding. Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mice apparently reproduce in March-September. Females reach sexual maturity at c.8 weeks of age. Males are territorial, and they participate in care of young. Young are generally weaned 20-23 days after birth.

Activity patterns. The Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mouse digs shallow burrows or uses abandoned burrows of other animals. One male and multiple females live in a burrow where young are born. The Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mouse is generally rare, with densities of ¢.2-5 ind/ha.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Anderson (1972), Findley (1987), Godinez (2014), Hinesley (1979), Hollister (1914), Mearns (1896), Merriam (1904), Nowak (1991), Riddle & Honeycutt (1990).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Cricetidae

Genus

Onychomys

Loc

Onychomys arenicola

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr 2017
2017
Loc

Onychomys torridus arenicola

Mearns 1896
1896
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