Cotton rat, Javelina rat
The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus ) is a rodent species long thought to occur in parts of South America, Central America, and southern North America. However, recent taxonomic revisions, based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data, have split this widely distributed species into three separate species (S. hispidus, S. toltecus, and S. hirsutus ). The distribution of S. hispidus ranges from Arizona in the west to Virginia to the east and from the Platte River in Nebraska in the north to, likely, the Rio Grande in the south, where it meets the northern edge of the distribution of S. toltecus (formerly S. h. toltecus ). Adult size is total length 202–340 mm (8.0–13.4 in); tail 87–122 mm (3.4–4.8 in), frequently broken or stubbed; hind foot 29–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in); ear 16–20 mm (0.63–0.79 in); mass 50–250 g (1.8–8.8 oz). They have been used as laboratory animals.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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LignivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Hispid cotton rat is common and widespread across southern, central and eastern parts of the United States. Currently, the population and range of this species continuously enlarge. This rodent has a sturdy built and extremely small cheek pouches. The grizzled coat of the animal is blackish or grayish in color, covered in stiff black guard hairs. The Hispid cotton rat is identified by its high “Roman” nose and a javelina-like color pattern, due to which the rodent is occasionally called the “javelina rat”.
The Hispid cotton rats are widespread across South America, Central America, and southern North America. Population in the US occupies a huge territory from the southeastern tip of California, southern Arizona and New Mexico northwards to eastern Colorado, eastwards through the southern parts of Kansas and Missouri to Tennessee and North Carolina as well as southwards the Atlantic coast to Florida and the Gulf states, reaching the Rio Grande Valley. The preferred habitat of this species is grassy fields and overgrown roadsides, providing dense vegetative cover. They also favor fencerow areas adjacent to agricultural fields. Other habitats, where these animals can be found, include meadows, marshy areas, cactus patches and weedy ditch banks.
The Hispid cotton rats may be active at any time of the day and throughout the year. The period of increased activity is late afternoon to midnight. These rodents are generally solitary animals that socialize only when breeding. During this period, older males are usually more successful than younger ones. In addition, these animals associate with conspecifics by huddling together during the cooler months in order to conserve heat. The Hispid cotton rats are highly territorial towards other rodent species, fiercely defending their territories from these intruders. They either build nests out of dry grass and fibers, stripped from larger plants, or use dens, abandoned by skunks, squirrels and other larger mammals. These rodents are known to make route systems, consisting of runways that are 7.5 - 10 cm in width. They excavate 2.5 - 5 cm-wide tunnels, located about 2.5 - 10 cm under the surface of the ground. There is few data on communication habits of this species, but they are believed to rely on well-developed senses of smell and hearing, like many other mammals.
These rodents are folivores, granivores and lignivores simultaneously. Hence, they feed upon roots, stems, sugarcane, herbs, fruits, berries, nuts, leaves and seeds of different plants, supplementing this diet with occasional insects, crayfish, fiddler crabs as well as eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds. Hispid cotton rats can also consume carrion.
Currently, there is few data on the reproductive system of Hispid cotton rats. However, it is suggested that they appear to be polygynous because of gender differences in home range sizes. Each individual has its own defined territory. Meanwhile, home ranges of males are considerably larger than these of females. Populations in temperate parts of their range usually breed during the summer, whereas those in tropical areas breed throughout the year. Gestation period lasts for 27 days, yielding 5 - 7 young per single litter. Females of this species are able to produce 3 - 4 litter per year. The newborn babies are very tiny, 76 mm in length, and weigh 6.5 grams. Weaning occurs at 3 weeks old. The young may be ready to breed within the first 35 - 40 days of their lives, but usually begin breeding after 2 months old, reaching maturity only by 5 months of age.
There are no major threats to Hispid cotton rats at present.
According to IUCN, the Hispid cotton rat is very abundant and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) and its numbers are increasing.
On one hand, the Hispid cotton rats are major agricultural pests in some parts of their range: when hungry, a single group of these rodents is able to destruct up to 90% of crops such as sugarcane, squash, rice, cotton, melon and sweet potato. On the other hand, these animals are a key prey species for larger predators of the area, including foxes, dogs, coyotes, weasels, raccoons, minks, domestic cats, bobcats, hawks, and snakes. According to some researchers, due to being so abundant and widespread, the Hispid cotton rats form a link between predators and game animals.
