Belonging to the species of New World Mouse, the Golden Mouse is a tiny looking creature mainly belonging to the southeastern regions of United States. Like any other animal, they have very distinct physical characteristics and eating habits that are indeed interesting. These attractive creatures love to remain in the wilderness and are seldom found near places inhabited by humans.
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Cricetidae
Ochrotomys
Ochrotomys nuttali
Table Of Content
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Cricetidae
Ochrotomys
Ochrotomys nuttali
Table of Contents
Description
These rodents have unique physical characteristics that help in their identification.
Length: Bodily length of the Golden Mice varies from 50 to 115 mm approximately.
Tail: Their prehensile tails range between 48 and 98 mm.
Color: They are furry animals having a golden hue from the top but downside (including feet) they are creamy white in color. Tones in the dorsal regions vary according to the different geographical regions, from yellowish to reddish. It has a bi-colored tail. Newborns are slightly reddish in color.
Teeth: Golden Mice have long and pointed incisors that are bifurcated by the use of diastema. They do not have premolars or canines.
Weight: It weighs more than 2 g when it is born but that gradually increases to 25 grams approximately as it grows up into an adult.
Picture 1 – Golden Mouse
Similar Species
The White footed mouse may be identified as a similar creature as it has similarities in fur pattern and size. Only difference is its color which is reddish brown unlike the golden mouse.
Distribution
They are predominant in southeastern United States, comprising Texas, Florida, Virginia, Missouri, and Georgia. Basically, it is concentrated in Appalachian Mountains spread along central Florida and major parts of Kentucky, southern Illinois and Missouri.
Habitat
Mainly found in swamps and woodlands, the golden mice can be traced to nooks and crevices of the forests. Be it the vines, the mountain slopes or brush land, these creatures are happily housed in there.
Researches have found that the creatures are found in great numbers in areas having density of red cedar, honeysuckle and greenbrier. At the edges of forests and lowlands, these creatures dwell in plenty.
They tend to make their nests on the ground as well as on the trees, depending on circumstances. They live in remodeled nests of birds that they keep well hidden on the ground. Nests are very big, made of pine needles, grasses and dead leaves.
Diet
They are granivorous creatures surviving largely on seeds among which sumac, honeysuckle and some others are included. They also eat berries of various plants like dogwood, cherry, greenbier and blackberry. They also prefer a varied comprising a mix of seeds, vegetables and fruits.
Reproduction
Reproductive season of the Golden Mouse varies according to the various geographical locations. In Tennessee and Kentucky, this season starts in March continuing till October but in Texas, it begins in September.
Gestation period of these mammals is 30 days. Winter is supposedly the most important reproductive season of the Golden Mice. In a year, the mother gives birth many times as the gestation period is only 4 weeks after which they again copulate.
They can produce several litters in a year. As per records, in captivity they can produce more than 16 litters in one and a half years. Mice born in fall were different from those born in spring in terms of weight and size.
Behavior
It displays these behavioral traits.
They are nimble on the trees as well as the ground and it is their prehensile tail which helps them hang from the trees.
Basically they are highly social creatures as they share their nests with their kins and also members not related to them.
They are nocturnal and hence they hunt for food in the night. Their activities increase manifold at night.
These mammals do not hibernate.
They become least active during floods when they take refuge in the trees.
Picture 2 – Golden Mouse Photo
Predators
Golden mice are being preyed upon by many nocturnal animals, comprising owls and weasels. Several researches have resulted in the formation of the fact that timber rattlesnake and bobcat also survive on these creatures.
Life cycle
After almost 30 days of gestation, around 2 to 4 infants are born that subsequently attain the size of an adult after 8 to 9 weeks. They are born with their eyes and ears closed that function normally after 2 weeks from their birth.
Lifespan
In general the Golden Mouse lives for one or two years but then those that are confined have reported to live up to 5 or 6 years.
Adaptations
Their tails act differently in various situations providing support and balance. They can hang with its help as well as use it as a support while climbing the trees.
Golden Mouse as Pets
They make good pets as they are tamable.
Housing: Keep them amidst vegetation so that they are not deprived of their natural habitat.
Feeding: Feed them with nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables that suit them the most. They can also be fed with wheat bread in small amounts.
Caring: It is better to keep them in company of other creatures of the same fraternity as they are very sociable creatures. To keep them happy, play with them and give them things to play with.
Conservation
In Illinois, this species has been considered as endangered. IUCN has listed them under least concern species.
Interesting Facts
The order to which the Golden Mouse belongs is called Rodentia which has more than 2000 species scattered around the globe.
Golden mouse is considered as ecologically distinctive among the mammalian microfauna.
They usually make two different types of structures for feeding and living. The feeding structure has a frail constitution as compared to the nest having more bulk. .
In case they fall into water, they can easily swim out of it as they are reported to be great swimmers.
The Golden Mouse can effectively move on the trees as high as 30 ft.
They amusingly hang in right angles from the trees with the use of their hind feet.
Very interestingly, the golden mice uses up the bird nests to make room for themselves or by using materials like cotton, milkweed, fur and other soft materials part from leaves and bark.
Once the babies are born, all the other members move out of the nest.
Nimble and tiny Golden mice live freely in the wilderness, scouting for food in the nooks and crevices of the woodlands. They display myriad characteristics in their behavior and physicality which make them unique.
Pictures
Get an idea about their looks from these pictures listed here.
