Mammals
Desert Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus penicillatus
Under a desert moon in the Sonoran sand, a desert pocket mouse stuffs seeds into its fur-lined cheek pouches and hurries home to its burrow, a tiny forager that never needs a drink.
Overview
The desert pocket mouse, Chaetodipus penicillatus, is a Least Concern rodent of the sandy deserts of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Its cheek pouches, seed stores, and independence from drinking water make it a close relative of the kangaroo rats in lifestyle and build.
A small seed collector
Like its kangaroo rat cousins, the desert pocket mouse survives in dry country by collecting seeds at night and extracting every drop of moisture from them.
Status
Least Concern, common in suitable desert habitat.
Desert Pocket Mouse: common questions
Why is it called a pocket mouse?
It has external, fur-lined cheek pouches, or pockets, that open outside the mouth and are used to carry seeds.
Does the desert pocket mouse need to drink?
No, it gets the moisture it needs from the seeds it eats.
Is a pocket mouse related to a kangaroo rat?
Yes, pocket mice and kangaroo rats belong to the same group of desert rodents with fur-lined cheek pouches.
Where is the desert pocket mouse found?
It lives in sandy desert habitat in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.