gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).( Brown and Burton, 1969 Wilson and Ruff, 1999 ""Arizona Pocket Mouse"", 2003 Hoffmeister, 1986) Populations are at the maximum density in late summer. The females nest in their burrow for 3 to 4 weeks while gestation occurs, after which litters ranging in size from 1 to 7 offspring are born (3 to 5 on average.) Weaning has presumably occurred by the time juveniles emerge from the burrows in May and June. Female Arizona pocket mice become pregnant throughout April. The males come out of their burrows before the females do in expectation of mating. ( Wilson and Ruff, 1999)Īrizona pocket mice exhibit a single reproductive season beginning in late February to early March. When male Arizona pocket mice emerge from their burrows in late February, they give off a distinguishing scent similar to “stale movie-theater popcorn,” which is believed to be a chemical signal of ability to reproduce (Wilson and Ruff, 1999). Range length 61 to 85 mm 2.40 to 3.35 in.( Hoffmeister, 1986 Wilson and Ruff, 1999) Perognathus amplus can be distinguished from little pocket mice, which are smaller and have a shorter tail however, these differences tend to be subtle. This longer tail distinguishes Arizona pocket mice from silky pocket mice and Great Basin pocket mice. The tail is longer than the body, and darker in color on the top. ![]() ![]() The underside of Perognathus amplus is usually white or light tan. For example, the dorsum is nearly black for mice living in black volcanic soils. The dorsal pelage of Arizona pocket mice is generally orange-ish tan with differing amounts of black dusting, depending on the location. Weight and length measurements are fairly invariable for Perognathus amplus throughout its distribution. Tail length ranges from 72 to 95 mm, hind foot length from 17 to 22 mm, and body weight from 9.2 to 14 grams. There are no differences in appearance between males and females of Perognathus amplus. ![]() ( Brown and Burton, 1969 Brown, et al., 1988 Kotler, et al., 1988)Īrizona pocket mice are quadrupedal. The pockets are most often used to transport food but can also be used to transport nesting materials. The pouches are external pockets of skin which are lined with fur and have an opening next to the mouth (Brown and Burton, 1969). Range elevation 1190 to 1653 m 3904.20 to 5423.23 ftĪrizona pocket mice get their name from their cheek pouches.Burrows can be detected by small openings and sand mounds, most often under a plant. These soils are desirable for digging underground burrows, which is where they sleep, cache food, raise young, and periodically go torpid during the winter. Throughout their distribution, Arizona pocket mice are found where there are solid, stable, fine-textured soils. Within this habitat, Arizona pocket mice prefer the bush microhabitat, as opposed to the open microhabitat. The vegetation is most often mesquite bush, creosote bush, cactus, and palo verde, but it also includes greasewood, rabbitbrush, ephedra, shortgrass, fescue, and juniper. ( Wilson and Ruff, 1999)Īrizona pocket mice are found in flat habitats with varying desertscrub vegetation or bunch-grasses, depending on the location in Arizona. Finally, Perognathus amplus taylori is distributed in central southern Arizona and northwestern Sonora, Mexico. Perognathus amplus pergracilis is distributed in northwestern Arizona. Perognathus amplus cineris is distributed in central northern Arizona. ![]() Perognathus amplus amplus is distributed in central to south-western Arizona and in northwestern Sonora, Mexico. Perognathus amplus can be divided into four subspecies, each with a slightly different distribution. Perognathus amplus is found throughout much of Arizona and into northern Mexico.
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