| Little pocket mouse | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Heteromyidae |
| Genus: | Perognathus |
| Species: | P. longimembris |
| Binomial name | |
| Perognathus longimembris (Coues, 1875) | |
Thelittle pocket mouse (Perognathus longimembris) is a species ofrodent in the familyHeteromyidae. It is found inBaja California andSonora inMexico and inArizona,California,Idaho,Nevada,Oregon andUtah in theUnited States.[1] Its naturalhabitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowlandgrassland. It is a common species and faces no particular threats; theIUCN has listed it as being of "least concern".
Five mice of this species travelled to and orbited the Moon 75 times in an experiment on board theApollo 17command module in December 1972. Four of the mice survived the trip.[2] Six other little pocket mice were sent into orbit withSkylab 3 in July 1973, though these animals died only 30 hours into the mission due to a power failure.[3][4]
This small mouse, with a long tail, inhabits arid and semiarid habitats with grasses, sagebrush and other scrubby vegetation. It isnocturnal and has a short period of activity for the first two hours after sunset, and then sporadic activity through the rest of the night. It sleeps in winter and is only active between April and November with numbers building up rapidly in the spring, peaking in June and July. It forages for seeds, plant material and small invertebrates which it carries back to its burrow in itscheek pouches.[5]
The little pocket mouse is common within most of its range although it is scarce in Baja California. The population appears to be steady and no particular threats have been identified for this species so theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed it as being of "least concern".[1]
