The northern pygmy mouse (''Baiomys taylori'') is a species of

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...

in the family Cricetidae. It is known as ''ratón-pigmeo norteño'' in the Spanish-speaking areas of its range. It is found in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

and the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Parasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...

s of the northern pygmy mouse include the intestinal nematode ''

Pterygodermatites ''Pterygodermatites'' is a genus of parasitic nematodes in the family Rictulariidae. Their life-cycle is complex. Species include: *'' Pterygodermatites baiomydis'' Lynggaard, García-Prieto, Guzmán-Cornejo & Osorio-Sarabia, 2014 *'' Pterygo ...

baiomydis''.Lynggaard C, García-Prieto L, Guzmán-Cornejo C & Osorio-Sarabia D (2014): ''Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) baiomydis'' n. sp. (Nematoda: Rictulariidae), a parasite of ''Baiomys taylori'' (Cricetidae). Parasite, 21, 58. The average size of an adult male is approximately , while adult females can weigh up to .

Reproduction

The pygmy mouse has litters of 1 to 5 pups, with an average of 3. The gestation time for pregnant females is less than 20 days. Unlike many other rodents, father pygmy mice will care for offspring, and groom and huddle over young.

Communication

In captivity, these mice will sometimes produce a 'squeal', and use a posture similar to singing mice.

References

Baiomys mammals described in 1887 Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas mammals of Mexico mammals of the United States taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Cricetidae-stub