Grasshopper mouse

Grasshopper Mice Temporal range: Early Pliocene - Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Superfamily:	Muroidea
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Neotominae
Genus:	Onychomys Baird, 1857
species
Onychomys arenicola Onychomys leucogaster Onychomys torridus

The genus Onychomys contains species commonly referred to as grasshopper mice. This is a genus of New World mouse only distantly related to the common house mouse, Mus musculus. There are three species. They are endemic to the United States and Mexico.

Its behavior is rather distinct from other mice. It is a carnivorous rodent, dining on insects (such as grasshoppers), worms, scorpions, snakes, and even other mice. It also stalks its prey in the manner of a cat, sneaking up quietly, and defends its territory by "howling" like a small wolf. The Grasshopper Mouse is known to be immune to various venoms released by its prey. (Scorpions, Snakes, etc.)^{[citation needed]}

Species

• Mearns's Grasshopper Mouse, Onychomys arenicola
• Northern Grasshopper Mouse, Onychomys leucogaster
• Southern Grasshopper Mouse, Onychomys torridus

References

• The Mammals of Texas: Mearns' Grasshopper Mouse
• The Mammals of Texas: Northern Grasshopper Mouse
• University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web: Genus Onychomys