ONYCHOMYS LEUCOGASTER
Northern grasshopper mouse
  Classification Order Rodentia, Family Muridae.

Description The fur on the back is pinkish pale cinnamon and on the underside completely white. The soles of the feet except for tubercles are covered with hair; the front feet have four conspicuous toes, the hind feet five. The ears and eyes are of average size. The female has 6 nipples, 2 in the pectoral re-gion and 4 in the inguinal region. Length of head and body 11-19 cm (4.4-7.6 in), tail 3-6 cm (1.2-2.4 in); weight 30-40 g (1-1.4 oz)..
  Distribution Central and south western United States to northern Mexico.

Habitat Prairie with low grass, desert, and pasture land.

Behaviour It feeds on grasshoppers (whence its common name), other insects, lizards, mice, and also on seeds and grass. It is solitary and nocturnal. After a gestation period of 29-38 days the female gives birth to 2-6 young in March - August; these are born hairless and with their eyes closed. After about 4 days they start to move about outside the nest, and after 9 days their eyes are open. They are weaned in 3-4 weeks and reach sexual maturity when they are about 90 days old A female may produce 3-6 litters ins year. Under con-trolled conditions in the laboratory individuals have lived as long as 4 years, but the average life expectancy of one born in the wild is a few weeks or months.