Plains Pocket Mouse

Taxobox
name = Plains Pocket Mouse
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Rodentia
familia = Heteromyidae
genus = "Perognathus"
species = "P. flavescens"
binomial = "Perognathus flavescens"
binomial_authority = Merriam, 1889

The Plains Pocket Mouse ("Perognathus flavescens") has soft silky fur and grows to be 5 inches long, although nearly half of that is the tail. They generally live directly underneath Spanish bayonet or prickly pear plants. They are accustomed to sandy soil and eat mostly seeds, large and small grasses and small leaves of plants. Some food found in their cheek pouches are: seeds of needle grass (Stipa), bind weed, sandbur grass, a small bean (probably Astragulus), and sedge (Cyperus). Even those caught in grain fields usually have their pouches filled with weed seeds. Seeds of two species of pigeon grass, a few other grasses, and wild buckwheat have been found in their holes.

Their breeding season is mainly July to August and the females tend to have 4 embryos at a time. Other information about this animal is scarce.

References

*
* [http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/perflave.htm The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition]