243.

Southern Grasshopper Mouse

Onychomys torridus

French: Onychomys méridional / German: Stdliche Grashipfermaus / Spanish: Raton saltamontes meridional

Taxonomy. Hesperomys (Onychomys) toridus Coues, 1874, Camp Grant, Graham County, Arizona, USA.

Three subspecies ( arenicola, canus, and surrufus) were removed from O. torridus, when O. arenicola was elevated to full species status. Ten subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

O.t.torridusCoues,1874—SArizona(USA)andN&CSonoraandextremeWChihuahuastates(Mexico).

O.t.aterS.Anderson,1972—smallregionofSWChihuahuaState(Mexico).

O.t.clarusHollister,1913—smallregionofSCalifornia(USA).

O.t.knoxjonesiHollander&Willig,1992—NSinaloaState(Mexico).

O.t.longicaudusMerriam,1889—EedgeofCalifornia,SNevada,SWUtah,andNWArizona(USA).

O.t.macrotisElliot,1903—NBajaCaliforniaState(Mexico).

O.t.pulcherElliot,1904—SECalifornia(USA)andadjacentextremeNEBajaCaliforniaState(Mexico).

O.t.ramonaRhoads,1893—SWCalifornia(USA)andadjacentextremeNWBajaCaliforniaState(Mexico).

O.t.tularensisMerriam,1904—SCCalifornia(USA).

O. t. yakiensis Merriam, 1904 — S Sonora and extreme N Sinaloa states (Mexico).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 86-101 mm, tail 33-62 mm, ear 11-18 mm, hindfoot 18-23 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Southern Grasshopper Mouse is of similar size to the Chihuahuan Grasshopper Mouse ( O. arenicola), but less stocky in appearance. It is readily distinguishable by its short tail, less than one-half of head-body length. Dorsum is pale brown to grayish or pinkish cinnamon.

Habitat. Scrublands and arid grasslands, chaparrals, and semi-tropical thorn forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.1400 m.

Food and Feeding. The Southern Grasshopper Mouse is well known for its carnivorous diet, but it occasionally eats plant material. It also eats small mice.

Breeding. Gestation lasts 26-35 days. Litters have 1-5 young.

Activity patterns. Southern Grasshopper Mice are basically nocturnal and active yearround, even during cold winter months. They do not hibernate.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Densities of the Southern Grasshopper Mouse are generally low, with 1-8 ind/ha recorded in Nevada, USA.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List.

Bibliography. Ceballos (2014b), Hall (1981), Horner & Taylor (1968), McCarty (1975), Pinter (1970), Taylor, J.M. (1968).