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Home -> Kingdom Animalia -> Phylum Chordata -> Subphylum Vertebrata -> Class Mammalia -> Order Rodentia -> Suborder Castorimorpha -> Family Heteromyidae -> Subfamily Heteromyinae -> Species Liomys pictus

Liomys pictus
painted spiny pocket mouse



2008/10/05 05:45:27.570 GMT-4

By Anna Bess Sorin

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Castorimorpha
Family: Heteromyidae
Subfamily: Heteromyinae
Genus: Liomys
Species: Liomys pictus

Geographic Range

Western coast of Mexico south to NW Guatemala.

Biogeographic Regions:
neotropical (native ).

Habitat

This species inhabits a range of areas from the Sonoran desert to the arid lowland tropics and the cloud forests. It seems to prefer moist areas whenever possible however.

Physical Description

The fur of these animals has stiff spines intermixed with soft, fine hairs. The upper parts are reddish brown and the underside white. When juveniles, their coats are grey and lack spines. Males are larger than females. Total body length average for males is 241mm and 229mm for females.

Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .

Reproduction

No clear seasonality to breeding and pregnancy, though males were found with larger testes from March to April compared to November to February. Two to six young are born after a gestation period of approximately 25 days. Females flee the nest if startled and return later to move young by carrying them in their cheek pouches. Litters usually break up after 1-2 months.

Key reproductive features:
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual .

Behavior

The painted spiny pocket mouse is an aggressive, solitary animal. It is found with conspecifics only when breeding or with young. It has the typical heteromyid behaviors of sand bathing, caching of seeds, and extensive washing and scratching. Encounters between individuals include neutral nose to nose contact, nasal-anal contact, and tail trembling or aggressive bouts of chasing, locking arms, and rushing.

Key behaviors:
motile .

Food Habits

Feeds on seeds mainly, occasionally nuts and insects.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

No information

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

No information

Contributors

Anna Bess Sorin (author), University of Michigan.

References

McGhee, M.E. and H.H.Genoways. 1978. Liomys pictus. Mammalian species. No 83. pp1-5. American Society of Mammalogists.

2008/10/05 05:45:29.083 GMT-4

To cite this page: Sorin, A. 1999. "Liomys pictus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 08, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Liomys_pictus.html.

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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