Heteromyidae

From New World Encyclopedia
Heteromyids
Fossil range: Early Miocene–Recent
Dipodomys nitratoides
Dipodomys nitratoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Superfamily: Geomyoidea
Family: Heteromyidae
Gray, 1868
Subfamilies

Dipodomyinae
Heteromyinae
Perognathinae

Heteromyidae is the family of rodents that includes the kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, and pocket mice. Heteromyids are characterized by external, fur-lined cheek pouches (like the related pocket gophers, family Geomyidae), short and rounded ears, relatively large eyes, and seed-eating behavior. The kangaroo rats (genus Dipodomys) and kangaroo mice (genus Microdipodops) use bipedal locomotion on elongated hind limbs (like kangaroos), while the pocket mice (genera Perognatus, Chaetodipus, Heteromys, and Liomys) use quadrupedal locomotion (like mice). The 6 extant genera and about 60 species of heteromyids occupy a similar range as the Geomyidae, being distributed from Western and Central Canada and the United States, through Mexico and Central America, to the northern tip of South America.


seed dispersal habitat for other animals food chains unique joy, with long beautiful tails, etc.,,,,


Physical description

Members of the heteromyidae family are characterized by external cheek pouches that are lined with fur, as with the closely related Geomyidae family. These pouches open anterior of the mouth and are used for transport of food. All heteromyids also have short and rounded ears and fairly large eyes.

The kangaroo rats (Diplodomys sp.) and kangaroo mice (Microdipodops sp.) have elongated hind limbs and feet and move bipedally in long jumps, as with kangaroos. They also have tails that are long and have white tips or tufts on the end. The front legs are relatively small and the heads are relatively large. The tails of kangaroo rats are longer than both their bodies and their heads.

The species in the four genera of pocket mice use quadrupedal locomotion. The silky pocket mice (Perognathus) and coarse-hared pocket mice (Chaetodipus) has species with relatively long feet, but these still use standard quadrupedal locomotion. The spiny pocket mice (Liomys) and forest spiny pocket mice (Heteromys) have a generalized body shape that is more rat-like (Randall 2004).

The fur is soft and silky in kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, and silky pocket mice, and more coarse and spiny in the spiny pocket mice.

The heteromyids range in size from 1.7 inches to 14.6 inches in total length (4.2-37cm) and weigh from 0.2 to 6.9 ounces (5-195g) (Randall 2004). The smaller members of the family are the desert pocket mice in Perognathus, which range in weight from 5 to 31 grams, and the kangaroo mice in Microdipodops, which range from 10-17 grams (Randall 2004). Members of the genus Chaetodipus range in size from 8.0-12.5 centimeters (head and body) and weigh 15-47 grams (Nowak 1999). Members of Heteromys commonly range from 37 to 85 grams, while the members of Liomys range from 34-50 grams (Randall 2004). Adult kangaroo rats, on the other hand, are larger and typically weigh between 70-170 grams (Nader 1978), with the larger ranging up to 195 grams (Randall 2004).

Distribution and habitat

Heteromyids are found in the Western Hemisphere. The southernmost range is northwestern South America. Teh range contineus through Central America and throughout Mexico and then through central and western United States into central and western Canada. The northernmost areas is British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within the Heteromys and Liomys genera are also found in forests. Kangaroo mice are largely in sandy habitats, while desert pocket mice tend to be more in arid habitats (sage brush, desert shrub, rocky hillsides, sand, chaparral, grass (Randall 2004).

Kangaroo rats live in arid and semi-arid areas particularly on sandy or soft soils (Howard 1994), which are suitable for burrowing. They can, however, vary in both geographic range and habitat. In particular, the Merriam kangaroo rat ranges though Southern California, Utah, Southwest New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico and live in areas of low rainfall and humidity, and high summer temperature and evaporation rates (Reynolds 1958). They can be found in areas of various elevations ranging from below sea level to about 4500 feet (Reynolds 1958). The Merriam kangaroo rat lives in stony soils including clays gravel and rocks, which is harder than soils preferred by some other species like the Banner-tail kangaroo rat (Howard 1994). Merriam kangaroo rats live in hot and dry areas, conserve water, and only use metabolic sources (Lidicker 1960).

The Banner-tailed kangaroo rat ranges from Northeastern Arizona southward to Aguascalientes and San Luis Posi, Mexico and from Arizona to Western Texas. They generally live in grasslands and scrublands. Banner-tailed kangaroo rats live in dry areas but have more water available to them than Merriam kangaroo rats.

All kangaroo rat species are sensitive to extreme temperatures and remain in their burrows during rain storms and other forms of inclement weather (Howard 1994).

Behavior, feeding, and reproduction

Most species of Heteromyidae are solitary species, with individuals living alone in individual burrow, with the exception of the new mothers with their young. Males tend to have home ranges that overlap with other males and females, while the females tend to have ranges exclusive from other females, although in some, like the kangaroo rats Dipodomys spectabilis, D. deserti, and D. ingens, both males and femals have exclusive territories (Randall 2004).

Heteromyids are granivores that feed mostly on seeds and other plant parts, which they carry in their cheek pouches (Morton et al. 1980) to their burrows (Fleming 1984). Some species supplement their diet with insects (Randall 2004). Merriam kangaroo rats, which live in hot and dry areas, survive by breaking down of the seeds they eat with their metabolism and only use metabolic sources of water. They can also conserve water by lowering their metabolic rate, which reduces loss of water through their skin and respiratory system (Lidicker 1960).

Predators of heteromyids include coyotes, foxes, badgers, weasels, owls, and snakes.

Taxonomy

Hafner et al. (2007) summarized the molecular and morphological data to date and proposed the following taxonomy:

  • FAMILY HETEROMYIDAE
    • Subfamily Heteromyinae
      • Genus Heteromys — spiny pocket mice
        • Trinidad spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys anomalus
        • Southern spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys australis
        • Overlook spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys catopterius
        • Desmarest's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys desmarestianus
        • Gaumer's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys gaumeri
        • Goldman's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys goldmani
        • Nelson's spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys nelsoni
        • Heteromys nubicolens
        • Paraguaná spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys oasicus
        • Mountain spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys oresterus
        • Ecuadoran spiny pocket mouse, Heteromys teleus
      • Genus Liomys
        • Panamanian spiny pocket mouse, Liomys adspersus
        • Mexican spiny pocket mouse, Liomys irroratus
        • Painted spiny pocket mouse, Liomys pictus
        • Salvin's spiny pocket mouse, Liomys salvini
        • Jaliscan spiny pocket mouse, Liomys spectabilis
    • Subfamily Dipodomyinae — kangaroo rats and mice
      • Genus Dipodomys — kangaroo rats
        • Agile kangaroo rat, Dipodomys agilis
        • California kangaroo rat, Dipodomys californicus
        • Gulf Coast kangaroo rat, Dipodomys compactus
        • Desert kangaroo rat, Dipodomys deserti
        • Texas kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator
        • Big-eared kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elephantinus
        • San Quintin kangaroo rat, Dipodomys gravipes
        • Heermann's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys heermanni
        • Giant kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ingens
        • Merriam's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys merriami
        • Chisel-toothed kangaroo rat, Dipodomys microps
        • Nelson's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys nelsoni
        • Fresno kangaroo rat, Dipodomys nitratoides
        • Ord's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii
        • Panamint kangaroo rat, Dipodomys panamintinus
        • Phillip's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys phillipsii
        • Dulzura kangaroo rat, Dipodomys simulans
        • Banner-tailed kangaroo rat, Dipodomys spectabilis
        • Stephens' kangaroo rat, Dipodomys stephensi
        • Narrow-faced kangaroo rat, Dipodomys venustus
      • Genus Microdipodops — kangaroo mice
        • Pale kangaroo mouse, Microdipodops pallidus
        • Dark kangaroo mouse, Microdipodops megacephalus
    • Subfamily Perognathinae — pocket mice
      • Genus Perognathus
        • White-eared pocket mouse, Perognathus alticola
        • Arizona pocket mouse, Perognathus amplus
        • Olive-backed pocket mouse, Perognathus fasciatus
        • Plains pocket mouse, Perognathus flavescens
        • Silky pocket mouse, Perognathus flavus
        • San Joaquin pocket mouse, Perognathus inornatus
        • Little pocket mouse, Perognathus longimembris
        • Merriam's pocket mouse, Perognathus merriami
        • Great Basin pocket mouse, Perognathus parvus
      • Genus Chaetodipus
        • Little Desert pocket mouse, Chaetodipus arenarius
        • Narrow-skulled pocket mouse, Chaetodipus artus
        • Bailey's pocket mouse, Chaetodipus baileyi
        • California pocket mouse, Chaetodipus californicus
        • Dalquest's pocket mouse, Chaetodipus dalquesti
        • Chihuahuan desert pocket mouse, Chaetodipus eremicus
        • San Diego pocket mouse, Chaetodipus fallax
        • Long-tailed pocket mouse, Chaetodipus formosus
        • Goldman's pocket mouse, Chaetodipus goldmani
        • Hispid pocket mouse, Chaetodipus hispidus
        • Rock pocket mouse, Chaetodipus intermedius
        • Lined pocket mouse, Chaetodipus lineatus
        • Nelson's pocket mouse, Chaetodipus nelsoni
        • Desert pocket mouse, Chaetodipus penicillatus
        • Sinaloan pocket mouse, Chaetodipus pernix
        • Baja pocket mouse, Chaetodipus rudinoris
        • Spiny pocket mouse, Chaetodipus spinatus
Heteromyidae
Dipodomyinae

Dipodomys



Microdipodops





Heteromys


Perognathinae

Perognathus



Chaetodipus





Most authorities prior to this (Alexander and Riddle, 2005; Patton, 2005) treat Liomys as a distinct genus from Heteromys.


Kangaroo mouse

A pale kangaroo mouse (M. pallidus)

Kangaroo mouse is the common name for any member of the jumping mouse genus Microdipodops, which currently is represented by two species: the pale kangaroo mouse (M. pallidus) and the dark kangaroo mouse (M. megacephalus). These species are native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States and predominantly found in the state of Nevada. The pale kangaroo mouse is lightly colored on its dorsal surface and white on the ventrum surface (Randall 2004).

Both species of kangaroo mouse live in sandy desert ecosystems, and forage for seeds and vegetation among the scrub brush of their native habitat. The dark kangaroo mouse also is known to feed occasionally on insects and carrion. The mouse never drinks water, instead deriving it metabolically from the foods it eats. The kangaroo mouse collects food and maintains large caches in their burrows, which are excavated to a length of between 3 and 8 feet (1 to 2.5 meters). The burrow, the entrance to which the mouse covers during daylight hours, is also used to raise litters of between 2 and 7 young. The pale kangaroo mouse burrows only in fine sand, while the dark kangaroo mouse prefers fine, gravelly soils, but may also burrow in sand or sandy soil. Kangaroo mice are nocturnal, and are most active in the two hours following sunset. They are believed to hibernate during cold weather.

The kangaroo mice are closely related to the kangaroo rats, which belong to the same subfamily, Dipodomyinae.

Kangaroo rat

A kangaroo rat

Kangaroo mouse is the common name for any member of the genus Dipodomys. Kangaroo rats are six-toed endotherms with large hind legs, small front legs and relatively large heads. The tails of kangaroo rats are longer than both their bodies and their heads. The coloration of kangaroo rats varies from cinnamon buff to dark gray, depending on the species (Howard 1994). There is also some variation in length with one of the largest species, the Banner-tail kangaroo rat being six inches in body length and a tail length of eight inches (Howard 1994). Sexual dimorphism exists in all species, with males being larger than females.

Kangaroo rats stay in one place bipedally. The Merriam kangaroo rat can leap 7-8 feet and quickly change its direction when landing. The Banner-tailed kangaroo rat can move rapidly, which minimizes energy costs and predation risks (Schroder 1979). It will also go into a “move- freeze” mode which may reduce predation at night.

Kangaroo rats are primarily seed eaters (Morgan 1992). They will, however, sometimes eat vegetation at certain times of the year and some insects (Howard 1994). They have been observed storing the seeds of mesquite, creosote, bush, purslane, ocotillo and grama grass in their cheek pouches. Kangaroo rat will store extra seeds in seed caches (Reynolds 1958). This caching behavior has an impact on the rangeland and croplands where the animals live (Howard 1994). Kangaroo rats must harvest as much seeds as possible in as little time as possible (Morgan and Price 1992). They need to decrease the time away from their burrows as they are cool and dry. In addition, being away from their burrows also makes them vulnerable to predators. (Morgan and Price 1992).

When on foraging trips, kangaroo rats hoard the seeds that they find. It is important for a kangaroo rat to encounter more food items than are consumed, at least at one point in the year, as well as defend or rediscover food caches and remain within the same areas long enough to utilize food resources (Schroder 1979). Different species of kangaroo rat may have different seed caching strategies to coexist with each other, as is the case for the Banner-tailed kangaroo rat and the Merriam kangaroo rat which have overlapping ranges (Nader 1978). Merriam kangaroo rats scatterhoards small clumps of seeds in many small holes (Jenkins et al. 1995). This is done close to the burrow and travel costs are minimized and harvest rates are maximized (Jenkins et al. 1995). Banner-tailed kangaroo rats larderhoard on large mounds (Jenkins et al. 1995). This could give them extra time and energy and decrease the risk of predation. They also spend less time on the surface digging small caches.

Lifestyle

Kangaroo rats inhabit overlapping home ranges. These home ranges tend to be small with much activities within 200-300 ft and rarely 600 ft.[1] Home range size can vary within species with Merriam kangaroo rats having larger home ranges than Banner-tailed kangaroo rats. Recently weaned kangaroo rats move into new areas not occupied by adults. Within its home range, a kangaroo has a defended territory consisting of its burrowing system.

Burrow system

Kangaroo rats live in complex burrow systems. The burrows have separate chambers for specific proposes like sleeping, living and food storage.[1] The spacing of the burrows depends on the number of kangaroo rats and the abundance of food. Kangaroo rats also live in colonies that range from six to several hundred dens.[2] The burrow of a kangaroo rat is important in providing protection from the harsh desert environment. To maintain a constant temperature and relative humidity in their burrows, kangaroo rats plug the entrances with soil during the day.[1] When the outside temperature is too hot, a kangaroo rat stays in its cool, humid burrow and leaves it only at night.[3] To provide large amounts of moisture through respiration when sleeping, a kangaroo rat buries its nose in its fur to accumulate a small pocket of moist air.[3] The burrows of Merriam kangaroo rats are simpler and shallower than those of Banner-tailed kangaroo rats. Banner-tailed kangaroo rats also mate in their burrows, unlike Merriam kangaroo rats.

Social interactions

Kangaroo rats are generally solitary animals with little to no social organization. Kangaroos rats do sometime cluster together in some feeding situations. Groups of kangaroo rats that do exist are aggregations and colonies.[1] There appears to be a dominance hierarchy among kangaroo rats with males competing for access to females.[4] Male kangaroo rats are generally more aggressive than females and are more dominant over them. Females are more tolerant of each other than males are and have more non-aggressive interactions. This is likely become the home ranges of females overlap less than the home ranges of males.[4] There appears to be linear dominance hierarchies among males but it is not known if this is the case for females.[4] Winners of aggressive encounters appear to be the most active ones.

Mating and reproduction

Kangaroo rats have a promiscuous mating system. Their reproductive output is highest in summer following high rainfalls.[5]

Taxonomy

  • Family Heteromydae
    • Subfamily Dipodomyinae
      • Dipodomys agilis (Agile kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys californicus (California kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys compactus (Gulf Coast kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys deserti (Desert kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys elator (Texas kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys gravipes (San Quintin kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys heermanni (Heerman's kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys ingens (Giant kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys merriami (Merriam's kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys microps (Chisel-toothed kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys nelsoni (Nelson's kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys nitratoides (Fresno kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys ordii (Ord's kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys panamintinus (Panamint kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys phillipsii (Phillip's kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys simulans (Dulzura Kangaroo Rat)
      • Dipodomys spectabilis (Banner-tailed kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys stephensi (Stephens' kangaroo rat)
      • Dipodomys venustus (Narrow-faced kangaroo rat)

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Howard1994
  2. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Reynolds1958
  3. 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Lidicker1960
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Newmark, J.E. and S.H. Jenkins. 2000. "Sex Differences in Agonistic Behavior of Merriam's Kangaroo Rats ( Dipodomys merriami)." American Midland Naturalist. (143):2 377-388.
  5. Waser, P.M. and T.W. Jones. 1991. " Survival and Reproductive Effort in Banner-Tailed Kangaroo Rats." Ecology. (72) :3 771-777.
  • Patton, J. L. 2005. Family Heteromyidae. Pp. 844-858 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

External links


Pocket mice

Perognathus

Template:Italictitle

Perognathus
Fossil range: Early Miocene - Recent
Perognathus longimembris pacificus
Perognathus longimembris pacificus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Eutheria
Order: Rodentia
Family: Heteromyidae
Genus: Perognathus
Wied-Neuwied, 1839
Species

Perognathus alticola
Perognathus amplus
Perognathus fasciatus
Perognathus flavescens
Perognathus flavus
Perognathus inornatus
Perognathus longimembris
Perognathus merriami
†Perognathus minutus Perognathus parvus

Perognathus is a genus of pocket mouse. Like other members of their family they are more closely related to pocket gophers than to true mice.

The silky pocket mice are small animals with soft pelage, long tails, and small feet compared to other heteromyids. They have long claws which are used for digging burrows and sifting sandy substrates for seeds. They have also been found to steal seeds from kangaroo rats' dens.[1] They store these seeds in large hairy external cheek pouches. They are nocturnal and are found in arid habitats. They are not true hibernators, but will go into torpor and stay in their burrows for extended periods of time.

Species

  • Perognathus alticola – White-eared Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus amplus – Arizona Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus fasciatus – Olive-backed Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus flavescens – Plains Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus flavus – Silky Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus inornatus – San Joaquin Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus longimembris – Little Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus merriami – Merriam's Pocket Mouse
  • Perognathus parvus – Great Basin Pocket Mouse

Sometimes members of the genus Chaetodipus are placed in Perognathus.

References

  • Duff, A. and A. Lawson. 2004. Mammals of the World A Checklist. New Haven, Yale University Press.
  • Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9


Chaetodipus

Template:Italictitle

Chaetodipus
Fossil range: Recent
Chaetodipus baileyi
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 artus
Chaetodipus baileyi
Chaetodipus californicus
Chaetodipus dalquesti
Chaetodipus eremicus
Chaetodipus fallax
Chaetodipus formosus
Chaetodipus goldmani
Chaetodipus hispidus
Chaetodipus intermedius
Chaetodipus lineatus
Chaetodipus nelsoni
Chaetodipus penicillatus
Chaetodipus pernix
Chaetodipus rudinoris
Chaetodipus spinatus

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).

Species

  • Chaetodipus arenarius - Little Desert Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus artus - Narrow-skulled Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus baileyi - Bailey's Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus californicus - California Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus dalquesti - Dalquest's Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus eremicus - Chihuahuan Desert Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus fallax - San Diego Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus formosus - Long-tailed Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus goldmani - Goldman's Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus hispidus - Hispid Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus intermedius - Rock Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus lineatus - Lined Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus nelsoni - Nelson's Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus penicillatus - Desert Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus pernix - Sinaloan Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus rudinoris - Baja Pocket Mouse
  • Chaetodipus spinatus - Spiny Pocket Mouse

Sometimes members of the genus Chaetodipus are placed in the genus Perognathus.

References

  • Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
  • Patton, J. L. 2005. Family Heteromyidae. Pp. 844-858 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.


Rock pocket mice

Rock pocket mouse
Conservation status
Status IUCN3.1 LC.svg
Least Concern

(IUCN3.1) [1]

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Heteromyidae
Genus: Chaetodipus
Species: C. intermedius
Binomial name
Chaetodipus intermedius
(Merriam, 1889)

The rock pocket mouse, C. intermedius, is one of 19 species of pocket mice in the genus Chaetodipus. (It is sometimes grouped in the genus Perognathus.[2])

Found mainly in rocky outcrops in the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico, the rock pocket mouse is medium-sized (length ~18 cm, weight ~12–18g) and nocturnal. It eats mainly plant seeds and makes small burrows in soil close to or under rocks to evade owls, its main predator. The breeding season spans a few months, starting in February or March, and the litter size is typically between three and six. As with most pocket mice, the tail is longer than the body (~10 cm).

Historically, rock pocket mice have been subdivided into as many as ten subspecies (Benson 1933; Dice and Blossom 1937) based on geographical distribution and coat colour. Most rock pocket mouse populations have light, tawny fur consistent with the colour of the desert rocks on which they live. However, darker coloured rock pocket mice are found living amid black, basaltic rock formations.

In 2003, scientists sampled DNA from both light- and dark-coloured rock pocket mice from areas in Pinacate Peaks, Mexico and New Mexico, USA. In the Pinacate mice, they discovered a perfect association between different versions of the Melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r) gene and coat colour .[3] Subsequent studies demonstrated that there is strong selective pressure maintaining Mc1r allele and coat colour frequencies across the short geographic distances between the light- and dark-coloured rock islands.[4]

Thus melanism in rock pocket mice is considered an elegant example of adaptation by natural selection. Changes in the Mc1r gene sequence are not responsible for the colour difference in the mice sampled from New Mexico, however, leading the researchers to conclude that the almost identical dark coat colours developed multiple times in rock pocket mice, an example of convergent evolution.[5]


References

  1. Linzey, A.V., Timm, R., Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T., Castro-Arellano, I. & Lacher, T. (2008). Chaetodipus intermedius. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 18 January 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
  2. ITIS Standard Report Page: Perognathus intermedius.
  3. Nachman MW, Hoekstra HE, D'Agostino SL (April 2003). The genetic basis of adaptive melanism in pocket mice. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100 (9): 5268–73.
  4. Hoekstra HE, Drumm KE, Nachman MW (June 2004). Ecological genetics of adaptive color polymorphism in pocket mice: geographic variation in selected and neutral genes. Evolution 58 (6): 1329–41.
  5. Hoekstra HE, Nachman MW (May 2003). Different genes underlie adaptive melanism in different populations of rock pocket mice. Mol. Ecol. 12 (5): 1185–94.

Further reading


References

  • Alexander, L. F. and B. R. Riddle. 2005. Phylogenetics of the New World rodent family Heteromyidae. Journal of Mammalogy, 86:366-379.
  • Hafner, J. C. J. E. Light, D. J. Hafner, M. S. Hafner, E. Reddington, D. S. Rogers, and B. R. Riddle. 2007. Basal clades and molecular systematics of heteromyid rodents. Journal of Mammalogy, 88:1129-1145.
  • Patton, J. L. 2005. Family Heteromyidae. pp. 844–858 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

References

[1]

[2] [3]


.[4]

[5]

  • Randall, J. A. 2004. Pocket mice, kangaroo rats, and kangaroo mice (Heteromyidae). Pages 199 to 210 in B. Grzimek et al., Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., vol. 16. Detroit, MI: Thomson/Gale. ISBN 0787657921.

.[6]

[7]


[8] to their burrows.[9]


External links


Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

  1. Howard, V.W. 1994. "Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage". S.E. Hygynstrom, R.M. Timm and G.E. Larson. New Mexico, Cooperative Extension Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Animal Damage Control, Great Plains Agricultural Council: Wildlife Committee. B101-B104.
  2. Schroder, G.D. 1979. "Foraging Behavior and Home Range Utilization of the Bannertail Kangaroo Rat." Ecology. (60):4 657-665.
  3. Jenkins, S.H., A. Rothstein, et al. 1995. " Food Hoarding by Merriams Kangaroo Rats: A Test of Alternative Hypotheses." Ecology (76):8 2470-2481.
  4. Lidicker, W.Z. 1960. An Analysis of Intraspecific Variation in the Kangaroo Rat Dipodomus merriami. Berkeley and Los Angelos, University of California Press.
  5. Nader, I.A. 1978. Kangaroo rate: Intraspecific Variation in Dipodomus spectabilis Merriami and Dipodomys deserti Stephens. Chicago, University of Illinois Press.
  6. Reynolds, H.G. 1958. " The Ecology of the Merriam Kangaroo Rat ( Dipodomys merriami Mearns) on the Grazing Lands of Southern Arizona." Ecological Monographs (28):2 111-127.
  7. Morgan, K.R. and M.V. Price. 1992. "Foraging in Heteromyid Rodents: The Energy Cost of Scratch-Digging." Ecology (73):6 2260-2272.
  8. Morton, S.R. (1980). Cheek pouch capacity in heteromyid rodents. Oecologia 46 (2): 143–146.
  9. Fleming, Theodore (1984). in Macdonald, D.: The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File, 632–633. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.