Zapodinae

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Jumping mice
Fossil range: Middle Miocene - Recent
Zapus hudsonius preblei
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Eutheria
Order: Rodentia
Family: Dipodidae
Subfamily: Zapodinae
Coues, 1875
Genera

Eozapus
Napaeozapus
Zapus

Jumping mice (subfamily Zapodinae) are a group of mouse-like rodents in North America and China.

Although mouse-like in general appearance, these rodents are distinguished by their elongated hind limbs, and, typically, by the presence of four pairs of cheek-teeth in each jaw. There are five toes to all the feet, but the first in the fore-feet is rudimentary, and furnished with a flat nail. The tail makes up for 60% of its body length and is used to gain balance while bounding. The cheeks have pouches. The Sichuan jumping "Yeti" mouse (Eozapus setchuanus) from China can be identified by the ‘Y’ marking on its belly.

In America these rodents inhabit forest, pasture, cultivated fields or swamps. When disturbed, they start off with enormous bounds of eight or ten feet in length, which soon diminish to three or four; and in leaping the feet scarcely seem to touch the ground. they are nocturnal and generally live alone. The nest is placed in clefts of rocks, among timber or in hollow trees, and there are generally three litters in a season.

[edit] Classification

[edit] References

  • Holden, M. E. and G. G. Musser. 2005. Family Dipodidae. Pp. 871-893 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
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