North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Science
North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)
Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Zapus
In the third week of development the mice are covered with hair; darker
hair appears dorsally; and vibrissae continue rapid growth. The external
auditory meatus begins to open on about the 19th day and young react to
sound on the 20th. The incisors now are 1 mm long and the claws 1.5 mm
long. Young are able to support themselves on their legs, walk, and make
one inch hops.
In the fourth week the juvenal pelage is replaced by adult pelage. The
eyes open between the 22nd and 25th days. The color of the incisors
changes from white to yellowish-orange as in the adults. P^4, M^1, M^2,
m1 and m2 have emerged from the maxillary and dentary bones; M^3 and m3
have not yet erupted. A mouse 33 days old had all teeth well developed.
By the end of the 4th week the young, except for size, are adultlike and
capable of independent existence.
The greatest increase in dimensions of the body is in the first four
weeks. A slowing down of growth is simultaneous with weaning.
Other workers, Sheldon (1938:330), Petrides (1948:76), and Ivor (1934:8)
also describe the appearance of the young.
Summer nesting sites are usually on the surface of the ground. Jumping
mice characteristically construct a globular nest of grass but will
utilize other vegetation if grasses are not available. Nests are usually
concealed under rocks, logs, bushes, or grass and can be entered by a
hole at one side.
Sheldon (1938:328) described a nest of _Z. hudsonius_ found on the
ground near the edge of a small hay field. The nest was globular, not
more than four inches in outside diameter and two inches in inside
diameter; it was closely woven of fine, dry grass and bits of moss.
Another nest found in the same field measured 11.5 inches in
circumference at the base and six inches in circumference over the top.
The inside width and length each was three inches, and the inside height
was 3.5 inches. Vernon Bailey (1927:118) remarks that summer nests are
placed on the surface of the ground well concealed under grass or other
vegetation. He describes the nest as "neat little balls of fine grass
with a tiny opening at one side and a soft lining in the central
chamber." Cory (1912:249) reports that summer nests are concealed behind
rocks or under bushes and thick grass. The nests are round and four or
five inches in diameter with an entrance hole at one side. Goodwin
(1935:148) examined a nest made entirely of straight, narrow leaves of
grass. Ivor (1934:8) found one made of finely shredded jute sacking.
Quimby (1951:80) describes several nests: one in the center of a rotten
willow log was lined with small pieces of pulpy wood; another was in the
rotted wood and debris, at ground level, inside a large, red oak (this
globular nest composed of grasses, plant fibers, and rootlets measured
six inches in diameter). Another nest was composed of a pile of wood
pulp, leaves of oaks, and grasses; this nest was in a hollow root
detached from a willow tree.
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