Grasshopper mouse

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iGrasshopper Mice
Fossil range: Early Pliocene - Recent
Onychomys leucogaster
Onychomys leucogaster
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Superfamily: Muroidea
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Onychomys
Baird, 1857
species

Onychomys arenicola
Onychomys leucogaster
Onychomys torridus

The genus Onychomys, contains species commonly referred to as grasshopper mice., This is a genus of New World mouse only distantly related to the common house mouse, Mus musculus.

Its behavior is rather distinct from other mice. It is a carnivorous rodent, dining on insects, worms, and even young mice. It also stalks its prey in the manner of a cat, sneaking up quietly, and defends its territory by "howling" like a small wolf.

[edit] Species

  • Onychomys arenicola (Mearns's grasshopper mouse)
  • Onychomys leucogaster (northern grasshopper mouse)
  • Onychomys torridus (southern grasshopper mouse)

[edit] References


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