No information was found about communication for Bailey's pocket mice. However, it is likely that they use some visual signals, vocalizations, and tactile communication. As mammals, it is likely that they also have some forms of chemical communication, as scent is often used for individual identification, as well as marking territories, and helping to identify reproductive condition of conspecifics.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Baily's pocket mice are not listed by CITES or IUCN.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
No information was found for negative economic impacts on humans.
It is unlikely that these small, seed eating rodents have any direct economic impact on humans. However, they do serve as food for larger species which humans enjoy watching, so there is some indirect connection.
Bailey's pocket mice are nocturnal granivores and are prey for snakes, owls, coyotes, and badgers. They compete with ants and other desert-dwelling rodents for food. It is thought that this species may select larger seeds than other similar sized rodents, helping to partition the seed-eating niche. Through their seed caching, these rodents help to distribute seeds. Through their burrowing, they help to aerate the soil.
Ecosystem Impact: disperses seeds; soil aeration
Bailey's pocket mice are dietary generalists. They utilize a variety of seeds and varying amounts of insects and green vegetation. The daily nutritional requirements can theoretically be met through a single feeding episode by loading their large cheek pouches. Although not specifically reported for this species, other members are known to cache seeds. It is likely that this species does so as well, as it is able to carry seeds in its cheek pouches.
Animal Foods: insects
Plant Foods: leaves; seeds, grains, and nuts
Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food
Primary Diet: herbivore (Granivore )
The range of Bailey's pocket mice (Chatodipus baileyi) is coincidental with the Sonoran Desert. They inhabit the entire length of the Baja California Peninsula, along with some small coastal islands. The species ranges from far southwestern New Mexico, along the southern part of Arizona, to the extreme southern part of California. In Mexico, the species is found from the western half of Sonora to northern Sinaloa.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Bailey's pocket mice occur primarily in the lower Sonoran Desert transition zone, often between rocky hillsides and desert flats. They use areas under large bushes and trees.
Range elevation: 270 to 720 m.
Habitat Regions: terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
Bailey's pocket mice have a relatively long life span, and can live up to 3 years in captivity.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 3 (high) years.
Bailey's pocket mice range in mass from 24 to 38 g. Males are slightly heavier than females, weighing in at an average of 28.2 g, compared to the average of 24.5 g for females. The total length of thse animals ranges between 176 and 240 mm, of which the tail contributes an additional 112 to 127 mm to the total length. They are considered the largest of the soft-haired pocket mice with crested tails. The pelage is grayish above, with varying degrees of yellow "washed in". The under parts are whitish. The dental formula is i 1/1 c 0/0 p 1/1 m 3/3 20.
Range mass: 24 to 38 g.
Range length: 176 to 240 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Bailey's pocket mice are preyed upon by owls, coyotes, badgers, and snakes.
Known Predators:
No information was found about the mating systems of Bailey's pocket mice. However, their sexual dimorphism in size indicates that the species may be polygynous, with males competing for access to females.
The breeding activity of Bailey's pocket mice is confined to the spring and summer months, with highest breeding activity in the late spring. This high point of sexual activity is correlated with new vegetative growth within their range. The young are usually born in April and May. The general litter size is 3 to 4 pups. Young of the year are thought to be able to reproduce before the end of the breeding season.
Although details are lacking for this species, other members of the genus are known to have gestation periods around 23 days. Young are altricial at birth, but develop quickly. Eyes are open by 18 days of age, and young are able to eat seeds by 24 days of age. Weaning probably occurs around this time. It is likely that C. baileyi is similar to other members of the genus in these areas.
Breeding interval: The breeding interval has not been reported for this species.
Breeding season: Chatodipus baileyi breeds in spring and summer months.
Range number of offspring: 3 to 4.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Information on parental care in this species is not available in the literature. However, as mammals, we know that the mother provides the growing young with milk, grooming, and protection. Because members of this genus are altricial at birth, the mother probably constructs some type of nest, in which she keeps the young until they are able to venture forth on their own. In other members of the genus, young are able to consume seeds around the age of 24 days. It is likely that C. baileyi is similar, and that the young become independent of the mother shortly after this age. Male parental care has not been reported for these animals.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; altricial ; pre-fertilization (Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
Bailey's pocket mouse (Chaetodipus baileyi) is a species of rodent of the subfamily Perognathinae, family Heteromyidae.[2] It is found in Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora in Mexico and in California, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.[1]
Bailey's pocket mouse has an adult length of between 176 and 240 mm (6.9 and 9.4 in), males being larger than females. Males average 28.2 g (1.0 oz) while females average 24.5 g (0.86 oz).[3]
Bailey's pocket mouse was first described by Clinton Hart Merriam in 1894 using a specimen collected by Vernon Bailey in Magdalena, Mexico on 3 November 1889.[4]
This pocket mouse lives in a burrow and is nocturnal. When it ventures into the open to search for food it is cautious, remaining as far as possible under cover or in the shadow of plants. When the risk of predation by owls is high it tries to avoid crossing open ground between shrubs, especially on moonlit nights.[1] Pocket mice feed on seeds which they carry in fur lined pouches on the outside of their cheeks, taking them back to their burrow for storage; this arrangement is advantageous to the mouse as it prevents the seeds from getting wet as would happen if they were carried in the mouth. Bailey's pocket mouse is the only known animal to be able to digest the wax found inside the jojoba nut and is the only rodent from the Sonoran Desert that is able to eat the seeds, because they are poisonous to most other mammals.[3]
In the 1970s, researchers removed kangaroo rats from an ecosystem in the Chihuahuan Desert, and for many years, no other small rodents moved in to fill the niche they left. In 1995, twenty years after the experimental removal, Bailey's pocket mouse moved into the area and filled the gap, almost completely replacing the missing kangaroo rats.[5]
Bailey's pocket mouse varies in abundance between about two and eighty animals per hectare, depending on the amount of rainfall and hence on its food supply. No particular threats to this species have been identified, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
Bailey's pocket mouse (Chaetodipus baileyi) is a species of rodent of the subfamily Perognathinae, family Heteromyidae. It is found in Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora in Mexico and in California, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.
