Nelson's Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus nelsoni
C. nelsoni has relatively coarse fur with distinct spiny hairs on the rump. Coloration is typically grayish-brown to buffy. Skull and dental characteristics are important…
How to identify
C. nelsoni has relatively coarse fur with distinct spiny hairs on the rump. Coloration is typically grayish-brown to buffy. Skull and dental characteristics are important for distinguishing this species.
Range
C. nelsoni occurs in parts of western Texas, southern New Mexico, and adjacent areas of northern Mexico.
Habitat
C. nelsoni inhabits arid and semi-arid habitats, including desert scrub, grasslands, and rocky areas.
Similar species
C. nelsoni can be confused with other Chaetodipus species in its range, such as C. eremicus. Size, coloration, and details of the spiny hairs can be helpful for differentiation.
Name and etymology
Genus
Chaetodipus
Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)
Origin
Sources
- Palmer, Index Generum Mammalium (1904) ↗
Palmer, T. S. 1904. Index Generum Mammalium: a list of the genera and families of mammals. North American Fauna 23. Government Printing Office, Washington. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.39809
Species epithet
nelsoni
Honoring American naturalist and ethnologist Edward William Nelson
Origin
Honors
Sources
- Stejneger, 1893. N. Amer. Fauna, No. 7, p. 220, pl. 3, figs. 4a and 4b ↗
Bufo boreas nelsoni. Stejneger, 1893 - N. Amer. Fauna, No. 7, p. 220, pl. 3, figs. 4a and 4b
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Range
C. nelsoni occurs in parts of western Texas, southern New Mexico, and adjacent areas of northern Mexico.
Habitat
C. nelsoni inhabits arid and semi-arid habitats, including desert scrub, grasslands, and rocky areas.
Guide
Mammals of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap