Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: MOUSE, PLAINS POCKET

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: MAMMALIA

Order: RODENTIA

Family: HETEROMYIDAE

Genus: PEROGNATHUS

Species: FLAVESCENS

SubSpecies: PERNIGER

Taxonomic Authority: OSGOOD

Taxonomy References: 001

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G5

Status References: 004 , 010 , 012

Habitat Summary

"Missouri specimens have been observed on loess mounds. May prefer arid to semi-arid conditions."

Primary Habitat: "Grassland(matrix)"

References: 003

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"A few specimens have been found in Atchison and Clark county *02,03*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
ATCHISON ADAIR
CLARK ANDREW
AUDRAIN
BARRY
BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 002 , 003 , 011

Distribution by Watersheds

Des Moines R.
Wyaconda R.
Mo. R. from Iowa Border to Nishnabotna R.
Nishnabotna R.
Mo. R. from Nishnabotna R. to Nodaway R.

Comments: "Likely to occur in units listed, based on county occurrence."

Distribution by Ecoregions

Central Till Plains

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Glaciated Plains: Western
Glaciated Plains: Eastern

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

References for Aquatic Associations:

Habitat Types:

Limestone Glade
Annuals
Perennial Grass (Warm season)

References for Habitat Types: 005

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Prairie
Dry Prairie
Dry-Mesic Prairie
Mesic Prairie
Chert Prairie
Dry-Mesic Chert Prairie
Hardpan Prairie
Primary
Glade
Limestone Glade
Dolomite Glade
Chert Glade
Sandstone Glade
Shale Glade
Igneous Glade

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 002 , 003 , 005

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Omnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Cyperaceae (sedge); Fruit/Seeds
Gramineae (grass); Fruit/Seeds
Arthropods; Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 002 , 003 , 006

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 003

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features specified in comments(00280)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 002 , 003

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: loess hills
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Successional stage: climax grassland

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 002 , 003

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Successional stage: climax grassland

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 003

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Successional stage: climax grassland

References for resting adult niche requirements: 002 , 003

Niche Requirement Summary

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Natural features: loess hills
Successional stage: climax grassland

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
035 Predators include coyotes, foxes, weasels, badgers, skunks, snakes, owls, and hawks *03,06*
030 Most active when temperatures are warm. May become lethargic or torpid when weather is cold or wet *03,06*. In a SD study found animals always active when temperatures 20-25 degrees C. Between 10-15 degrees C. May become lethargic. At 5 degrees C. may go into deep torpor after 12-72 hrs. *07*
099 Store food in chambers within burrow *03,06*. Entrance to burrow opens into a vertical tunnel going into the ground for over 4.5' *03*. Doorway usually plugged with dirt from inside *03,06*. There are usually several openings into tunnel system *03*. May use dusting areas during warm part of year *03*
007 In MO may breed April - September *03*.
017 Gestation period about 3-4 weeks *03*
018 Litter size may range from 2-7 with average of about 4 *03*
019 May have 1-2 litters per year *03,06*

Life History Information

Periodicity: active at night
Periodicity specified in comments(030)
Regulatory factors specified in comments(035)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: gleaning
Foraging sites: ground
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Nest/den site: underground burrow
Gestation/incubation period specified in comments(017)
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)
Number of broods/litters per year specified in comments(019)
Development of young at birth/hatching: altricial
Parental care of young: female

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
035 Predators include coyotes, foxes, weasels, badgers, skunks, snakes, owls, and hawks *03,06*
030 Most active when temperatures are warm. May become lethargic or torpid when weather is cold or wet *03,06*. In a SD study found animals always active when temperatures 20-25 degrees C. Between 10-15 degrees C. May become lethargic. At 5 degrees C. may go into deep torpor after 12-72 hrs. *07*
099 Store food in chambers within burrow *03,06*. Entrance to burrow opens into a vertical tunnel going into the ground for over 4.5' *03*. Doorway usually plugged with dirt from inside *03,06*. There are usually several openings into tunnel system *03*. May use dusting areas during warm part of year *03*
007 In MO may breed April - September *03*.
017 Gestation period about 3-4 weeks *03*
018 Litter size may range from 2-7 with average of about 4 *03*
019 May have 1-2 litters per year *03,06*

References for life history: 003 , 006 , 007

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Beneficial Management References:

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Hall, E.R. 1981. The Mammals Of North America, 2nd Ed. John Wiley And Sons, Inc. New York. 1181pp.
002 Easterla, D.A. 1967. First Specimens Of Plains Pocket Mouse From Missouri. J. Mammal. 48(3):479-480.
003 Schwartz, C.W. and E.R. Schwartz. 1981. The Wild Mammals Of Missouri 2nd Ed. Univ. Of Missouri Press And Mo Dept. Of Conservation, Columbia, Mo. 356 Pp.
004 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
005 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
006 Bee, J.W., G. Glass, R.S. Hoffman, and R.R. Patterson. 1981. Mammals In Kansas. Univ. Of Ks Mus. Nat. Hist. Pub. Ed. Er. # 7. 300pp.
007 Beer, J.R. 1961. Hibernation in Perognathus Flavescens. J. Mammal. 42(1):103.
008 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
009 Unpb Clawson, R. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201 (573-882-9880).
010 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
011 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
012 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.