Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Sub Phylum: Vertebrata
Super Class: Tetrapoda
Class: Mammalia
Sub Class: Theria
Order: Rodentia
Sub Order: Myomorpha
Family: Muridae
Sub Family:
Sigmodontinae
Genus: Onychomys
Life Cycle and Life Span
•Mice breed approximately three times
per year, all in the spring and early
summer months.
•Number of offspring: 2-7
•Gestation period: 26-35 days
•Mice in this genus weigh about 2.6 g
at birth. Their eyes open at about 2
weeks of age.
•Young mice are typically weaned
around 3 weeks of age.
•Females in this genus become
sexually mature at seven to eight
weeks of age. A young female can give
birth to her first litter at four months of
age.
•Life span of Mearns’ Grasshopper
Mouse in captivity reached an average
age of 4 years, 5 at the most. The life
span of wild o. arenicola has not been
reported.
Habitat and Eating
Habits
A small mouse with a fat tail. It has a cinnamon-pink or grayish dorsal side and a white
ventral side. At the base of each ear on the front side, there is usually a white or grayish
tuft of fur. Mass: 22g to 30g. Length: About 5.75 in.
Phylogeny
Previously, the scientific name for this rodent was reported as
Onychomys torridus; however, recent genetic work on the species has
indicated that formerly, two species have been included under that name.
Consequently, the species occurring in Texas has been renamed O.
arenicola, with O. torridus occupying southwestern New Mexico and
westward. Mearns' Grasshopper Mouse is closely related to the Northern
and Southern grasshopper mice and exhibits physical characteristics
intermediate between the two.
Behavior/Habits
•Primarily solitary and
predatory.
•Adapted to predatory
lifestyle.
•Said to live in
female/male pair but
eventually one will end
up killing the other one.
•Live in burrows.
•Nocturnal. Usually hunt
at night when there is
limited moon light.
DID YOU KNOW?!
•Prior to attacking, or when faced with an enemy,
these mice stand on their hind limbs, point their
nose upward, and let out a piercing cry lasting
between 0.7 and 1.2 seconds. Humans can hear
this cry up to 100 m away.
•Experts at dodging, twisting, and turning.
•Make a "chit" sound during aggression, and a soft
"chirp" during mating.
•Their tails are about 1/3 the length of their whole
body.
•Female mice give extensive parental care.
•Juveniles look like adults, but their upper parts are
bluish-gray.
•Valuable in the pet trade.
•Onychomys" means 'clawed mouse."
• Found in south-central New
Mexico, extreme western
Texas, and northeastern
Mexico.
• Mearns' grasshopper mouse
habitat in Texas includes low,
arid, sandy or gravelly desert
areas where the principle
vegetation consists of creosote
brush, mesquite, and yucca. In
New Mexico it is associated
with desert grasslands
dominated by black grama and
mesa dropseed.
• Their diet consists mostly of
other animals (about 90%) but
also a variety of plants (10%).
They feed mostly on insects
(including grasshoppers,
scorpions, beetles, and
crickets), but will attack and eat
other
small mammals,
By: Jacqueline
Alvarez
including
other
grasshopper
Davis, W., D. Schmidly. 1997. "The Mammals of Texas, Online
Edition. Mearns Grasshopper Mouse" (On-line). Accessed April 1,
mice.
2010 at http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu./tmot1/onycaren.htm.
Lautzenheiser, E. (2003). Onychomys arenicola. Retrieved from
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/
Onychomys_arenicola.html.
Niethammer, J. 2001. Grzimek's Encyclopedia Mammals;
Grasshopper Mice (Genus Onychomys). Hastings-on-Hudson, New
York: The Language Service, Inc..