California pocket mouse
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Chaetodipus californicus
Weight
23
1
goz
g oz 
Length
190-224
7.5-8.8
mminch
mm inch 

The California pocket mouse (Chaetodipus californicus ) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae.

No

Nocturnal

Gr

Granivore

He

Herbivore

To

Torpor

Zo

Zoochory

Fo

Fossorial

Te

Terrestrial

Te

Territorial

So

Solitary

No

Not a migrant

C

starts with

Appearance

The dental formula of Chaetodipus californicus is 1.0.1.31.0.1.3 × 2 = 20 teeth in total.

Show More

Its fur is brown on top and tan underneath with distinct white hairs, or spines, near the rump. The tail is dark on top, light underneath and tufted at the end. Females and males are about the same size, showing no sexual dimorphism. C. californicus is often mistaken for C. fallax (San Diego pocket mouse) which shares some of the same habitat but has smaller and rounder ears. Its total tail length is 190–235 mm, tail length is 102–143 mm, and weight is 18-29 g.

Show Less

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

Chaetodipus californicus is native to California in the western United States and northern Baja California state in north-western Mexico. It is found in habitats, such as California chaparral and woodlands, in Southern California throughout the Southern Sierra Nevada, Southern California Coast Ranges, and the Transverse Ranges; and in Southern California and northern Baja California in the Peninsular Ranges.

Climate zones

Diet and Nutrition

The California pocket mouse is mainly a granivore, feeding mainly on seeds. However, it also eats insects and leaves. Like all members of the Family Heteromyidae, C. californicus has external cheek pouches which it uses to store seeds.

Mating Habits

PREGNANCY DURATION
3-4 weeks
BABY CARRYING
2 to 7

References

1. California pocket mouse Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_pocket_mouse
2. California pocket mouse on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/4329/115068220

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About