| Chaetodipus Temporal range: Recent |
|
|---|---|
| Chaetodipus baileyi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Subclass: | Eutheria |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Heteromyidae |
| Subfamily: | Perognathinae |
| Genus: | Chaetodipus Merriam, 1889 |
| Species | |
|
Chaetodipus arenarius |
|
Chaetodipus is a genus of pocket mouse containing 19 species endemic to the United States and Mexico. Like other members of their family such as pocket mice in the genus Perognathus, they are more closely related to pocket gophers than to true mice.
Members of this genus range in size from 80-125 mm (head and body) and weigh 15-47 grams (Nowak, 1999). Unlike the silky pocket mice (genus Perognathus), most species of the genus Chaetodipus have harsh pelage with some bordering on spiny hair. They tend to be found in arid habitats where they feed on seeds, vegetation, and insects (Nowak, 1999). Females give birth to a litter of 2-9 young after a gestation period of just under a month. The longest recorded life span is 8 years and 4 months (Nowak, 1999).
Sometimes members of the genus Chaetodipus are placed in the genus Perognathus.