North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Science
North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)
Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Zapus
Data from museum labels indicate that embryos in 62 pregnant females
averaged 5.4 (2-8) per female. Quimby (1951:67) found the average number
of embryos per female for 14 females taken in Minnesota, to be 5.3 and
that litters of young found in nests averaged 5.8. Sheldon (1938:330)
reports two litters of seven young each and one of four young for _Z.
hudsonius_ in Vermont. Petrides (1948:76) records a litter of six young
for _Z. hudsonius_ in Georgia. Brimley (1923:263) records one lot of
seven and one lot of eight embryos for _Z. hudsonius_ in North
Carolina. Vernon Bailey (1923:120) reports six embryos for a female of
_Z. hudsonius_ taken in Washington, D. C. Ivor (1934:8) obtained a
litter of five young _Z. hudsonius_ from Erindale, Peel County, Ontario.
Hamilton (1935:195) records litters of two, four, and five young and
embryo counts of four, two, four, and four for _Z. hudsonius_ in New
York.
There seems to be two litters per year. According to Quimby (1951:69),
"most adult females breed soon after emergence from hibernation and
produce the first litters within a month. The remaining females do not
breed immediately but produce the first litter," he says, "in the second
month after emergence." Both early-breeding females and late-breeding
females produce at least 2 litters per year. Those that breed early may
have 3 litters.
The appearance and development of growing young of _Z. hudsonius_ in
successive weeks is described by Quimby (1951:65). Newborn young are
pink and hairless except for microscopic vibrissae. The eyes and
external auditory meatus are closed, and the pinnae are folded. The toes
are fleshy and clawless; the tail is short in relation to the length of
the body. The average weight was .78 grams. The average measurements of
three from different litters are: total length, 34 mm; tail, 9.2 mm;
hind foot, 4.7 mm. The young are helpless but capable of emitting a high
pitched squeaking sound which is audible for several feet.
In the first week of growth the vibrissae become visible to the naked
eye, the body changes to flesh color, the dorsal parts become dark gray,
the pinna unfolds and is black tipped, and the claws appear. The young
now are able to crawl and make a suckling noise, but they are not yet
able to support themselves on their legs.
In the second week of development, tawny yellow hair appears on the back
and spreads onto the sides. Sparse hair of a lighter color appears on
the belly, backs of the feet, and outer surfaces of the legs. Vibrissae
are now prominent. The eyes are still closed, but a crack down the
center of each is visible by the 13th day. Claws have grown, the longest
measuring 1.5 mm. The incisors erupt on approximately the 13th day,
those in the lower jaw appearing slightly before those in the upper jaw,
and all are white. Activity is increased; nevertheless the young still
crawl, make suckling notes, and squeak.
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