Order Rodentia Family Cricetidae Diastema 1 pair incisors Ears shorter than tail Eyes, ears visible Tail with fur, or laterally flattened; not bushy Tail shorter than head and body Peromyscus leucopus

Onychomys leucogaster Identification: Stocky body; thick tail with blunt tip; dorsum brownish; venter white; molars cuspidate Distribution: West, southeast Iowa Habitat: Prairies; burrow in grassy areas; need bare areas for dustbathing

Onychomys leucogaster Diet: Invertebrates, carrion, herbaceous vegetation, seeds Reproduction: Multiple litters of 1-6 annually Conservation: Rare (formerly Endangered); possibly adapting to agriculture and increasing

Reithrodontomys megalotis Identification: Long bicolored tail; fur bristly, short; dorsum yellow- brown to gray; venter white; upper incisor face grooved Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Grassy habitats; spherical nest of grasses, fibers, down

Reithrodontomys megalotis Diet: Seeds, grains, herbaceous vegetation; some invertebrates Reproduction: Up to 14 litters of 1-9 annually Conservation: Fairly common

Peromyscus leucopus Identification: Large eyes; fur not very bristly; incisors lack grooves; bicolored tail in winter; dorsum brown to gray; dorsum white (TL ) Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Tall weedy, brushy, wooded habitat

Peromyscus leucopus Diet: Nuts, seeds, berries, invertebrates Reproduction: Several litters of 1-7 annually Conservation: Common Other: Carrier of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Synaptomys cooperi Identification: Small eyes, ears; tail about same length as hind foot; face of upper incisors grooved; dorsum usually brownish; venter grayish brown Distribution: Formerly statewide; presently poorly known Habitat: Wet grassy areas

Synaptomys cooperi Diet: Leaves, grasses, twigs, roots, fungi, mosses, ferns Reproduction: Multiple litters of 2-6 Conservation: Threatened; few recent records

Clethrionomys gapperi Identification: Small eyes, ears; dorsum with reddish stripe flanked by gray; venter grayish to white Distribution: Northern Iowa Habitat: Cold, moist forests and open wet areas; tunnel under logs

Clethrionomys gapperi Diet: Nuts, seeds, berries, herbaceous vegetation, some invertebrates Reproduction: Multiple litters of 2-10 Conservation: Endangered; likely survives only in Pilot Knob State Park, Hancock County

Microtus pinetorum Identification: Small eyes and ears; tail longer than hind foot, and up to 29 mm; fur soft and velvety; dorsum reddish to reddish brown Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Old-growth forest

Microtus pinetorum Diet: Nuts, seeds, roots, grasses, bark Reproduction: Multiple litters of up to 3 young Conservation: Uncommon

Microtus ochrogaster Identification: Small eyes and ears; tail usually > 29 mm; fur long and coarse; dorsum brown to gray with salt-and-pepper appearance; venter usually yellowish; tail somewhat bicolored; molars with 5,4,4 islands of dentine Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Dry, grassy areas Molars

Microtus ochrogaster Diet: Green vegetation, roots, seeds, bark Reproduction: Multiple litters of 1-7 Conservation: Generally common, uncommon in east Iowa; probably declining due to agriculture

Microtus pennsylvanicus Identification: Small eyes, ears; tail usually longer than 29 mm; fur soft; dorsum brown to gray with salt-and-pepper appearance; venter usually gray; 3 molars with 5,5,5- 6 islands of dentine Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Moist grassy areas Molars

Microtus pennsylvanicus Diet: Green vegetation, seeds Reproduction: Multiple litters of 1-11 Conservation: Very abundant; probably increasing; densities may reach 100 per acre

Order Rodentia Family Cricetidae Ondatra zibethicus picture by Mark F. Wallner

Ondatra zibethicus cm long Tail cm Shoulder height 13 cm g Plump, rat shaped body Entire body covered with fur, feet and tail hairless Small ears and eyes hidden within fur Hind feet partially webbed Tail scaly, black and flattened vertically

Ondatra zibethicus Skull contains 16 teeth 4 large incisors (2cm) Used for cutting plant material Dental Formula

Ondatra zibethicus North America 1.8 mil years ago One of most widely distributed Require marshy area salt/freshwater Water depth 1-2 m Cattails, pondweeds, and bulrushes Food and nest material In prime habitat, 25/ acre

Ondatra zibethicus Crepuscular organism Feeds mainly on aquatic vegetation Build dens of cattails, reeds and mud Important waterfowl nesting habitat about 7 million muskrats trapped Fur yielded a profit of 28 million dollars

Ondatra zibethicus references Jones, J. Knoox, Jr. and Elmer C. Birney Handbook of Mammals of the North-central states. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 346 pp. ISBN Kays, Roland and Don E. Wilson Mammals of North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 240 pp. ISBN Willner, G.R.,G.A. Feldhamer, E.E. Zucker, and J.A. Chapman Ondatra zibethicus. Mamm. Species, 141:1-8

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii Deer mouse Sara Eubanks A ECL 364

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii: deer mouse Sara Eubanks Identification: smallest Peromyscus in north central region, dorsum dark, grayish brown, ventral white, tail distinctly bicolored, dark on top and white on bottom tipped with a tuft of short, stiff hairs. (TL , tail 42-65, hind foot 15-19, ear 13-15, weight g) tracker.com

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii Habitat: Open, except in woodlands and wet, swampy lowlands. Thrives in grassy areas, weedy fields, along overgrown fencerows and roadsides. Diet: omnivorous; eat insects, invertebrates, and seeds; get most of water from dew and water in their food.

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii Distribution: statewide Reproduction: several litters annually of offspring, usually 4-6. Nests are constructed below ground level in a burrow dug by occupant or abandoned by another small animal. Young are weaned at 3 weeks and can breed at 5 to 6 weeks old.

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii Conservation status: Abundant; densities can reach 11 mice per acre depending on habitat. site/accounts/information/Peromyscus_ maniculatus.html.

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii Other: Host of a strain of hantavirus called Sin Nombre virus (also called Four Corners or Muerto Canyon virus). This causes fatal disease in humans termed pulmonary syndrome Nocturnal In winter, ten or more of mixed sexes huddle together in nests to conserve heat.

Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii References Bunker, A "Peromyscus maniculatus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 26, 2004 at myscus_maniculatus.html. myscus_maniculatus.html Kays, R.W. and D.E. Wilson The Mammals of North America. Princeton University press, Princeton, New Jersey. Jones, J.K. and E.C. Birney Handbook of Mammals of the North-central States. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.