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Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of four. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Troglodytic rodents


California pocket mouse, Chaetodipus californicus
 

Three species of rodents came to the cave, but none was a frequent visitor. 

The pocket mouse, photographed on three different nights seems to have done a little digging and dust bathing. 
   

Digging and dust bathing in the fine sand. 


There is also a series of pictures where the sand magically forms a crater, and our best guess is that a dust bathing pocket mouse was out-of-site doing the work.  


The short-tail of this pocket mouse is an aberration due to the angle.


Two long-tailed species of deer mice have been recorded in the area: the Pinyon mouse (P. truei) and the Brush mouse (P. boylei). 

The Pinyon mouse also has big ears and a dorsal tail stripe that is less than 1/3rd the circumference of the tail.

This looks like a Pinyon mouse -- and a handsome mouse it is.

 

Pinyon mouse (Peromyscus truei), a species of foothill woodland and juniper woodland. 

 
Our old freind the dusky-footed wood rat appeared only once. 



Dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes)

1 comment:

Marilyn said...

They are cute little guys! :-) I enjoy your blog and visit it every day.