| Hot, dry, sandy uplands in central and coastal Florida are habitats for prickly pear cactus, pocket gophers, gopher tortoises, and the Florida Mouse. Gopher tortoises dig long, deep burrows that provide homes for Florida Mice and as many as 360 other vertebrates and invertebrates. The Mice dig side burrows off the main burrow, line them with shredded vegetation, and use them as nursery nests. Females have 1-5 young, which are nursed almost nonstop for about two weeks. The young are weaned by about four weeks, and soon go off to establish home ranges of their own. The Mice feed at night, on plant materials and insects. Because of habitat modification by humans, gopher tortoises and Florida Mice are seriously threatened.
Also known as:
Florida Deermouse, Gopher Mouse
Sexual Dimorphism:
None
Length:
Average:
194.7 mm
Range:
178-220 mm
Weight:
Average:
35.5 g
Range:
27-47 g
References:
Chapman, F.M., 1889. Preliminary descriptions of two apparently new species of the genus Hesperomys from Florida. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 2:117.
Links:
Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account
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