Kansas Mammal Atlas
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SOUTHERN PLAINS WOODRAT
Neotoma micropus
Baird, 1855
nE-O-tOma mI-crO-pus
Description:
Southern Plains Woodrats, like other woodrats, are actually large mice. They can be distinguished from other members of their family by: 1) soft fur on their upperparts gray mixed with blackish guard hairs, 2) white underparts, feet, throat, and breast, 3) short, sparsely-haired tail blackish above and grayish below, and 4) large, well-haired ears. Sexes are alike in color, but young are not as brightly colored as adults.
Distribution:
The range of the Southern Plains Woodrat occurs in the southwestern part of Kansas where it lives in crevices in rocky outcrops, and in shrubby grasslands. The range of the Southern Plains Woodrat and the Eastern Woodrat do not overlap, and are separated in western Kansas by the Arkansas River.
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Museum Voucher) (
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Observation) (
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Literature Record)
Open icons are questionable records; Click on a marker to view details.
Occurrence Summary:
510
Total Records
499
Museum Vouchers
11
Other Observations
Some county occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map above.
County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences):
Barber (84); Clark (27); Comanche (16); Finney (6); Grant (1); Gray (1); Hamilton (12); Haskell (74); Kiowa (48); Meade (137); Morton (37); Pratt (1); Seward (32); Stanton (29); Stevens (5);
Natural History:
Like the eastern woodrat, the southern plains woodrat builds a bulky and conspicuous nest in rock outcrops or in the base of shrubs. Cacti and thorn branches are often placed on the outer part of the nest. Within the accumulation of nest material are several levels of tunnels, some of them associated with the nest cavity. The nest cavity is lined with dry grass and other fine plant fibers. Other cavities are used for food and resting chambers. Most nests have escape routes, either into subterranean corridors or rock fissures beneath the nest, or at ground level leading to trails beyond the nest which in turn lead to feeding areas. Some nests, especially those in cliffs or rock outcrops, are used for many generations, and some sites have been used for thousands of years. A black, tar-like substance is frequently associated with these cliff sites. Populations of the southern plains woodrat fluctuate from year to year, according to the severity of winters and food supply. Foraging normally begins at twilight or earlier if the sky is overcast. Long vibrissae are used as tactile organs and are adaptations for foraging and recognizing objects in the animal's territory at night. Thumping or drumming the hind feet is one means by which they communicate within their territory.
Adults may attain the following dimensions: total length 300-390 mm; tail 120-170 mm; hind foot 36-41 mm; ear 23-32 mm; weight 240-340 grams.
Food is mainly vegetation, including leaves, berries, roots, nuts, and seeds, some of which is stored in their dens for winter use.
Breeding occurs in late February or March. Two or three young are born in late April after a gestation period of 33 days, and are weaned after 30 days. Three months later the young southern plains woodrats become full grown and in ten months are sexually mature. There is one litter per year.
Occurrence Activity:
Remarks:
Maximum longevity of this rat in nature is about three years.
Bibliography:
Account Last Updated:
7/13/2017 10:14:28 AM