Summary ⁴

The northern grasshopper mouse, or killer mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), is a North American carnivorous rodent originating from the dry areas of the continent.

Description ⁵

Northern Grasshopper Mice are highly predatory, and their skulls and teeth resemble those of flesh-eating carnivores such as cats and dogs. Their forelimbs, equipped with elongated fingers and claws, have developed great dexterity, so they are able to manipulate captured prey. These Mice have a complex social system, using howling vocalizations to broadcast information on sex, identity, body size, and location. Grasshopper Mice prey primarily on grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, yet they incorporate some seeds into their diet, presumably a dietary preference retained from a seed-eating ancestry.

Links:
Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Jeremy Yoder, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/87484925@N00/4016853203
2. (c) 1999 California Academy of Sciences, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=774&one=T
3. (c) Gerson Herrera, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Gerson Herrera
4. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychomys_leucogaster
5. (c) Smithsonian Institution, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/6625273

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• ASM Mammal Diversity Database
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CalPhotos
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• iNaturalist Mammal Working Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet

Range Map

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