![]() John Maggirias (author), University of Toronto. No literature available to identify negative economic importance to humans. No literature available to identify positive economic importance to humans. Cheek pouch volume is directly proportional to body size (Vander-Wall et al., 1998). They are capable of collecting seeds in fur-lined cheek pouches. Rock pocket mice are granivorous, feeding on a variety of seeds depending on availability (Rebar, 1995 Wilson and Ruff, 1999). They accomplish this by altering basal metabolic rate to be higher in colder temperatures (Wilson and Ruff, 1999). During colder periods they become torpid but may remain active for a period of two hours when temperatures are below freezing. gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate).During prolonged droughts reproduction is often delayed and survivorship of young is 7.3% (Paulson, 1988). heavier than those that were not (Van de Graff, 1975). Males in reproductive condition averaged 2.3g. Females are reproductively active from February until the end of July. In southeastern Arizona all males captured from February until September were fertile. Van de Graff (1975) observed that males tend to be in reproductive condition for longer periods each year than females. Similar to other species of pocket mice, rock pocket mice live for a maximum of three years (Paulson, 1988). Litter size varies from three to six (Wilson and Ruff, 1999). The breeding season begins in February or March and progresses into July. Sexual dimorphism is observed, with males being larger overall and in certain morphological features such as mastoid width, nasal length, and mandible length (Wilson and Ruff, 1999 Weckerly et al., 1988). Dental formula is 1/1 0/0 1/1 3/3=20 and cheek teeth of are ever growing (Vaughn, 2000). The bottoms of their hind feet are bare to the heels (Wilson and Ruff, 1999). Hairs are coarse with weak "spines" on the rump (Wilson and Ruff, 1999). al., 1988) Pelage is grayish brown on the back with pale orange brown lines on the sides and white underneath. Body size varies regionally (Weckerly et. Their relative size is small in contrast to other members in their genus (Vaughn, 2000). The tails are long and tufted at the tip (Wilson and Ruff, 1999). Rock pocket mice range from 157 to 188mm in total length, with a tail length from 84 to 112mm. Average home range size is 400 meters (Krebs et al., 1990). Rock pocket mice inhabit desert and are particularly associated with rocky areas. Rock pocket mice occur in rocky habitats in the southwestern United States, from south-central Utah through much of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas (western Sonora, Chihuahua and Trans-Pecos), as well as northwestern Mexico (Wilson and Ruff, 1999 Weckerly et.
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