Pale kangaroo mouse
Pale Kangaroo Mouse ( Microdipodops pallidus )
The Pale Kangaroo Mouse ( Microdipodops pallidus ) is one of two species of kangaroo mice from the family of pocket mice ( Heteromyidae ). It is common in the southwestern United States.
Features
The pale kangaroo mouse reaches a total length of 15.0 to 17.3 cm with a 7.4 to 9.9 cm long tail. It weighs 10.3 to 16.8 grams. The top of the mouse is pale pinkish brown cinnamon to the hair of the underside are completely white. The feet are enlarged and have bristle-like hairs, which project laterally and thus increase the area that is running on the sand. The hind legs are enlarged by 25 to 27 millimeters in length and give the drive to jump, while the short front legs touch the ground rarely. The tail is used when jumping with the hind legs to hold the balance.
From the dark kangaroo mouse ( Microdipodops megacephalus ), these species can be distinguished by the bright back color, the color of the peritoneum, which is dark in M. megacephalus at the base and only the hair tips white, and somewhat longer hind legs.
Distribution and habitat
The dark kangaroo mouse comes in the southwestern states of the U.S. before in the area of the Great Basin. The range extends from the southern and central Nevada to Mono County, California, and Deep Spring Valley in Inyo County, also in California.
She lives mainly on dry and sandy areas at altitudes 1200-1750 meters, the vegetation of Atriplex and Artemisia tridentata confertifolia is determined.
Way of life
Kangaroo mice are nocturnal and solitary life during the day in their burrows, which they invest in loose sand hills in the area of shrubs. They feed mainly on seeds, but also eat relatively large quantities of insects and green plants. In addition, they store food in their burrows.
The young are born from March to September to the world, wherein the cube include two to six pups. As predators, especially owls, foxes and badgers come into question.