The Pacific jumping mouse (''Zapus trinotatus'') 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

Zapodidae Zapodidae, the jumping mice, is a family of mouse-like rodents in North America and China. Although mouse-like in general appearance, these rodents are distinguished by their elongated hind limbs, and, typically, by the presence of four pairs o ...

. Found in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

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 ...

, its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s are temperate

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

and

swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...

Description

Pacific jumping mice can be distinguished from other rodents that belong to the same genus by their larger size. They have a distinct color separation between the

back The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column run ...

and underside. Other distinctive features of the Pacific jumping mouse, especially in contrast to the

Western jumping mouse The western jumping mouse (''Zapus princeps''), is a species of rodent in the family Zapodidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. Western jumping mice evolved during the Pleistocene, possibly from the fossil species '' Zapus burti'', ...

, include ears fringed with light brown fur or with fur that matches the back.Gannon, L. W., (1988). Zapus trinotatus. Mammalian Species. Retrieved from . These rodents prefer to live in moist habitats and are frequently found in riparian or meadow areas near rivulets. They rely on grass seeds as their main diet, and thus they prefer inhabiting areas with thick vegetation, which provide refuge from predators as well as food resources. Besides eating grass, they feed also on fungi and insects. They spend most of the autumn season fattening up in preparation for winter hibernation, which is spent in small burrows in the ground. When their hibernation period of up to 8 months is over, they mate and produce a litter of 4 or more young. Pacific jumping mice have many predators, including snakes, coyotes, owls, and foxes.Bowers, N., Bowers, R., & Kaufmann, K. (2004). Mammals of North America. New York, N.Y: Houghton Mifflin.

Distribution

Pacific jumping mice prefer living in moist regions, such as marshes with alder, salmonberry, skunk-cabbage, and riparian alder ecosystems commonly found in coastal redwood woodlands. In northern regions they dwell in dense woodlands, wet grassy regions, and alpine meadows of the

Cascade Mountains The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, ...

in Washington and the

Olympic Peninsula The Olympic Peninsula is a large arm of land in western Washington that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle, and contains Olympic National Park. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the ...

. These mice can be found in marshy thickets, woodlands edges that contain both weedy understory and ferns, and in meadows.Naughton, D., & Canadian Museum of Nature. (2012). The natural history of Canadian mammals. Toronto

_Diet

The_diet_of_Pacific_jumping_mice_include_fungi,_fish,_insects,_mollusks,_wild_fruits,_seeds,_and_wild_berries._They_forage_for_food_material_at_ground_level_and_will_cut_down_tall_plants_to_reach_seeds._Other_behaviors_include_cutting_grass_and_leaving_it_in_an_orderly_pile,_but_hey_do_not_store_food._The_dental_formula_of_''Zapus_trinotatus''_is__=_18.

_Behavior

Infant_Pacific_jumping_mice_vocalize_in_sharp_squeals._Mature_mice_evade_predators_by_leaping_distances_of_over_150 cm;_they_leap_with_their_head_turned_downwards,_arching_their_back_and_diving_on_the_ground_while_at_the_same_time_preparing_to_make_another_leap._They_may_also_evade_predation_by_remaining_motionless_and_depending_on_the_camouflage_effect_of_their_fur._They_are_most_active_from_dusk_until_dawn._They_feed_by_seizing_food_with_their_forepaws. Their_behavior_is_typically_nervous_and_high-strung,_and_they_can_be_aggressive_when_trapped._However,_despite_showing_some_signs_of_aggressiveness,_the_Pacific_jumping_mouse_is_naturally_gentle._When_engaged_in_fighting,_they_produce_a_characteristic_squeaking_noise_and_at_the_same_time_pulsate_their_tails_against_the_substrate,_thus_producing_a_drumming_noise._When_this_rodent_is_agitated,_it_jumps_and_moves_madly_from_one_place_to_another. Pacific_jumping_mice_prepare_for_summer_by_constructing_a_fragile_domed-shaped_nest_with_a_single_entrance,_usually_placed_on_the_ground.

__Reproduction_

Pacific_jumping_mouse_sexually_mature_the_year_after_they_are_born._Males_become_sexually_active_in_May_or_June,_which_is_when_females_are_also_fertile._Their_gestation_period_lasts_about_18–23_days_and_give_birth_in_July_or_August._Each_litter_consist_of_about_4-8_young,_which_are_weaned_after_4_weeks._The_Pacific_jumping_mouse_are_born_pink_and_hairless,_and_weigh_around_0.7–0.9_grams_at_birth._They_are_also_born_with_their_eyes_shut_and_depend_on_their_mother_to_survive_the_first_few_weeks._They_become_independent_after_about_a_month.

_Genetic_makeup

The_genetic_makeup_of_a_given_population_of_Pacific_jumping_mice_depends_on_their_mating_system,_characteristics_of_the_species,_demography,_and_dispersal._However_the_following_three_components_seem_to_be_important_to_the_genetic_health_of_the_Pacific_jumping_mouse._The_first_component_is_behavioral_instigation_of_dispersal._The_second_component_is_the_significance_of_species_dispersal_as_an_initiator_of_migrating_patterns_that_also_include_mating_selections._The_third_component_is_the_impact_of_dispersion_on_gender-specific_models_of_species_relatedness,_and_thus,_on_allelic_allotment_within_the_population.

_See_also

_References

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Habitat

The habitat of Pacific jumping mice includes streams, brushlands, lakes, woodlands, forests, fields, swamps, meadows, shrubs, bogs, marshes, and the banks of rivers and ponds. Their range covers the entire Pacific Northwest, California, and western Canada.

Diet

The diet of Pacific jumping mice include fungi, fish, insects, mollusks, wild fruits, seeds, and wild berries. They forage for food material at ground level and will cut down tall plants to reach seeds. Other behaviors include cutting grass and leaving it in an orderly pile, but hey do not store food. The dental formula of ''Zapus trinotatus'' is = 18.

Behavior

Infant Pacific jumping mice vocalize in sharp squeals. Mature mice evade predators by leaping distances of over 150 cm; they leap with their head turned downwards, arching their back and diving on the ground while at the same time preparing to make another leap. They may also evade predation by remaining motionless and depending on the camouflage effect of their fur. They are most active from dusk until dawn. They feed by seizing food with their forepaws. Their behavior is typically nervous and high-strung, and they can be aggressive when trapped. However, despite showing some signs of aggressiveness, the Pacific jumping mouse is naturally gentle. When engaged in fighting, they produce a characteristic squeaking noise and at the same time pulsate their tails against the substrate, thus producing a drumming noise. When this rodent is agitated, it jumps and moves madly from one place to another. Pacific jumping mice prepare for summer by constructing a fragile domed-shaped nest with a single entrance, usually placed on the ground.

Reproduction

Pacific jumping mouse sexually mature the year after they are born. Males become sexually active in May or June, which is when females are also fertile. Their gestation period lasts about 18–23 days and give birth in July or August. Each litter consist of about 4-8 young, which are weaned after 4 weeks. The Pacific jumping mouse are born pink and hairless, and weigh around 0.7–0.9 grams at birth. They are also born with their eyes shut and depend on their mother to survive the first few weeks. They become independent after about a month.

Genetic makeup

The genetic makeup of a given population of Pacific jumping mice depends on their mating system, characteristics of the species, demography, and dispersal. However the following three components seem to be important to the genetic health of the Pacific jumping mouse. The first component is behavioral instigation of dispersal. The second component is the significance of species dispersal as an initiator of migrating patterns that also include mating selections. The third component is the impact of dispersion on gender-specific models of species relatedness, and thus, on allelic allotment within the population.

References

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