The San Diego pocket mouse (Chaetodipus fallax ) is a rodent species in the family Heteromyidae. It occupies the northern region of Baja California near San Diego extending into Mexico.
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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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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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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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FossorialA fossorial animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, ...
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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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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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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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 San Diego pocket mouse occupies the northern region of Baja California near San Diego extending into Mexico. This moderately sized mouse is characterized by dark brown fur covering the top of its body with white fur on its underside. Its length ranges from 170 to 200 mm and its weight is approximately 17–22 g. The San Diego pocket mouse is a homoeothermic endotherm with both hypsodont and lophodont teeth. Similar species include C. californicus, which shares the same habitat.
Males often occupy a home range of 3,500 square metres (38,000 sq ft) while females occupy a range of 2,500 square metres (27,000 sq ft). Territories are often defended to protect habitat from intruders with the exception of potential mates during the breeding season. A typical home range is composed of rocks, sand and herbaceous vegetation for cover. Some common plants seen in these habitats include Yucca and desert scrub.
The San Diego pocket mouse is built for slow quadrupedal locomotion. At higher speeds, the pocket mouse “gallops” by hitting the ground with both feet and using its tail for balance. The mice forage at night in attempt to avoid predators. Food is gathered in cheek pouches and stored in separate burrow chambers. Burrows serve as the primary habitat for the mouse in the winter during a period of decreased activity. Burrows are divided into separate chambers with one for sleeping and the rest for storing food. Verbal communication may be utilized to indicate the presence of danger in some cases when a mouse squeaks. Large eyes and ears help individuals sense their surroundings.
San Diego pocket mice are granivores and predominantly forage on seeds. Their cheeks have fur-lined pouches for storing seeds. These mice can subsist on seeds alone and are capable of surviving without drinking additional water. In this case, San Diego pocket mice are able to obtain their water through food or metabolic by-products. In high temperatures, San Diego pocket mice consume seeds with high moisture to compensate for evaporative cooling and water loss during warmer weather. If seeds are in short supply, individuals have been known to eat leaves, stems and insects to replace their normal diet.
The San Diego pocket mouse is often a solitary animal, which makes it difficult to study its reproductive history. Many individuals mate in the spring, but others have been known to mate throughout the year. Reproduction occurs 1–3 times a year. There is significant evidence that correlates reproductive events with rainfall. An average litter is composed of 2–6 individuals with an average gestation period of 24–26 days. Females serve as the primary caregivers for their offspring, nursing young and protecting them inside their burrows.
