southern grasshopper mouse

The southern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys torridus) is one of three species of grasshopper mice found in arid and semiarid regions of western North America. These rodents are known for their carnivorous and insectivorous diets, often preying on insects, scorpions, and even other small rodents. They are stout-bodied with a dense coat, typically ranging from grayish to reddish-brown, and have white underparts.1

Grasshopper mice are territorial and aggressive, sometimes compared to small mammalian carnivores. Uniquely, they communicate over distances with a howl, similar to a coyote's call. These mice belong to the family Muridae and their evolutionary history dates back to the Early Pliocene Epoch.1