In the United States, the range of these creatures extends from the western Great Plains to the eastern Rockies and southeastern Arizona, and from northern Mexico to North Dakota (Chaetodipus hispidus 1999).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Southern North Dakota south through Great Plains to Arizona, central Mexico, and western Louisiana.

Chaetodipus hispidus are fairly large mice in comparison to other pocket mice. They have heavier hindlimbs compared to their forelimbs. The soles of their hind feet are hairless. These mice have tails less than half the total length of their body with little or no hair on the tail (Chaetodipus hispidus 1999). Another unique feature that many of the mice in this species has is tail-tip albinism. The cause for this phenomenon is not completely understood, but it is another feature that sets apart this species (Stangl, et al 1995). They show definite bicoloration; the belly has light coloring, and the back has olive buff hairs. The average external measurements for a Texan specimen is body length of 198 mm, tail length of 93 mm, and ear length of 10 mm (Davis and Schmidly 1994).

Range mass: 30 to 47 g.

Length: 22 cm

Weight: 47 grams

• Terrestrial

Sandy soil scattered with some vegetation is usually the ideal environment for these pocket mice. They are most common in shortgrass priaries, grasslands, or near the growth by fence rows. The best explanation for their choice of habitat is probably the way they make their homes. They dig burrows into the soil, starting with a hole an inch in diameter straight into the ground. C. hispidus create many openings to their burrow, but usually end up piling all the dirt near one opening to camouflage the others. They usually plug these openings during the daytime. These burrows serve as food storage and nesting sites, as well (Davis and Schmidly 1994).

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland

Comments: Prefers prairie areas with sparse or moderate vegetation; various dry grassland habitats. Occurs in rocky or gravelly areas with heavy soils. Has been found in irrigated cornfields. Sleeping and birthing occur in underground burrows.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

C. hispidus are generally seed eaters, but have been known to consume insects. Their diet include seeds of cactus, evening primrose, and winecup, while the insects are usually grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles (Caire, et al 1989).

Comments: Eats primarily seeds of grasses and weeds; also consumes green vegetation. Stores seeds underground.

Generally solitary.

Comments: Reported to hibernate in northern regions (or subsists through winter on stored seeds); active throughout much of year in south.

Their nests are usually composed of dry grass and weeds. While the breeding season peaks from May to June, some of the far south Texas specimens may mate all year long. The average litter size is about 6 young, but the precise number is variable with climate, location, and availability of resources (Wild Animals of North America 1995). Very little is known about the gestation period or growth and development periods of the young.

Breeds in spring/summer in north, probably throughout year in south. Produces probably 1-2 litters of 2-9 young in north.

C. hispidus are abundant in the wild. They seem to have built-in mechanism to control the population, since it has been found that there are periodic fluctuations. This can probably be attributed to the variables that surround the litter size (Stangl, et al 1995). They are preyed upon by a wide variety of predators, such as coyotes, skunks, snakes, hawks, and owls, but seem to maintain a healthy levels of their population (Chaetodipus hispidus 1999).

US Federal List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

While they do perform good works, C. hispidus is greatly disliked in the farming industry because they carry away the produce the farmers have worked hard to grow. As seed eaters, the mice also dig up the seeds of cantaloupe, peas, watermelon, squash, and other small grains that have been already been planted (Davis and Schmidly 1994).

Ranchers are protective of C. hispidus because they eat the seeds of weeds. This is beneficial because harmful weeds no longer spring up to pose danger to the livestock. These little pocket mice perform a great service for ranchers (Davis and Schmidly 1994).

Comments: This species formerly was included in the genus Perognathus. Subgenus Chaetodipus was elevated to full genus status by Hafner and Hafner (1983); this treatment was supported by a phylogenetic analysis of Heteromyidae based on myology (Ryan 1989). Chaetodipus was accepted as a full genus by Jones et al. (1992), Patton (in Wilson and Reeder 1993, 2005), and most other authors subsequent to Hafner and Hafner (1983). In a phylogeny based on molecular data, Riddle (1995) found support for the monophyly of Chaetodipus, including C. formosus, relative to Perognathus.

This is the type species of the monotypic subgenus Burtognathus (Hoffmeister 1986; Patton, in Wilson and Reeder 1993, 2005).