Perognathus Longimembris Pacificus - Physical Description

Physical Description

The Pacific pocket mice all have different characteristics ranging from the male, female and the baby mice. Since the pocket mice are members on the Heteromyidae, which consists of animals surviving on seeds and grain, they have fur-lined cheek pouches externally. Most of the pocket mouse’s body is covered in fur that feels silky. The coats of the pocket mice are spineless and bristle free. The color of the Pacific pocket mouse has to do with the environment they live in, hence the color of the soil. The dorsal side of the pocket mouse is usually brown and pinkish while the ventral is usually white. On the pocket mouse, there are typically two patches of hairs that are lighter at the base of the ear. The tail of the pocket mouse can either be distinctly or indistinctly bicolored. The soles of the hind feet are hairy, which are also the distinguishing marks on the Pacific pocket mouse along with the two patches of hair that are lighter at the base of the ear.

The young baby of a pocket mouse is called a “pinkie, kitten or pup.” The females are called “does” and the males are called “bucks.” The pocket mouse group is called a “nest, colony, harvest, horde or mischief.” The skull, hind foot and skull are almost the smallest of all the pocket mouse species.

Since the Pacific pocket mice are in the midst of the smallest subspecies of little pocket mice, they range from 4.25 inches (108 mm) to 5.2 inches (130 mm) in length from the nose to the tip of the tail. The tail of the pocket mouse is 2.125 inches (54.0 mm). The height of the pocket mouse is .625 inches. The pocket mice weigh usually from 0.25 oz. to 0.33 oz.

A pocket mouse can have 8 to 10 pups (baby mice) every year.