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Golden Mouse - Ochrotomys nuttalli
Topic Started: Dec 11 2012, 02:52 PM (2,177 Views)
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Golden Mouse - Ochrotomys nuttalli

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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Superfamily: Muroidea
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Tribe: Ochrotomyini
Genus: Ochrotomys
Species: Ochrotomys nuttalli

The golden mouse is a small species of rodent found in the southeast United States. It is an attractive mouse which spends most its time in trees.

Habitat

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The golden mouse lives and breeds in the southeastern United States.

They live in thick woodlands, swampy areas, among vines, and within small trees and shrubs. These animals especially like to live where honeysuckle, greenbrier, and red cedar grow. Golden mice in the south-central region of the United States inhabit climates that are hot and wet in the summer and dry in the winter.

Description
The body length of the golden mouse ranges from 50-115 mm (2-4.5 in) . The prehensile tail is from 50 to 97 mm (2-4 in) in length, generally the same length as the body of the mouse to which it belongs. Golden mice receive their common name from the thick and soft golden fur that covers the upper body. However, the feet and undersides are white and its tail have a cream coloring. Regional differences occur in the amount of yellowish, reddish and brownish overtones in the dorsal pelage.

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Ecology
This species is mainly nocturnal and arboreal, although many live on the ground as well. Golden mice move quickly and easily. They are able to use their prehensile tails to balance while climbing trees and also to hang from branches.

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Golden mice build nests which may be located in the trees or on the ground. Ground nests, frequently located near leaf litter, may be fabricated within sunken areas of the soil or beneath logs. Ground nests have both advantages and disadvantages. Floods or wet soil may force golden mice to leave their ground nests and relocate into the trees. However, if the ground nest is undisturbed, it can lower the risk for predation for the following reasons: the nest is well hidden, a mouse on the ground is more likely to escape a predator, and less energy is required to build a nest on the ground since the mouse doesn't have to keep running up and down a tree with nesting materials. Golden mice have been known to remodel old bird nests into homes for themselves. Otherwise these animals create a nest 100 to 200 mm in size, from scratch using different elements, depending on what materials are locally available.

It is a gregarious creature. In fact, up to 8 mice have been discovered sharing a nest at one time. Groups can consist of kin or unrelated individuals. The most common groups consist of mothers and their young. Many scientists speculate that living in groups conserves energy. This idea is supported by the observation that mice are found in groups more often in the winter when such grouping produces a clear cut thermoregulatory benefit.

Golden mice have a low basal metabolic rate and high conductance. When their areas become flooded, golden mice activity is significantly reduced.

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Golden mice feed mostly on seeds. They prefer sumac seeds, but also consume honeysuckle and other seeds as well.

Golden mice reproduce all year long. However, the reproductive season varies geographically. A litter of golden mice typically consists of two or three young, but ranges from one to four. Aside from the mother, all other adults leave the nest when the litter is born.
Edited by Taipan, Dec 14 2012, 09:19 PM.
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