Hispid Cotton Rat

Sigmodon hispidus

The Hispid Cotton Rat is a small, furry animal that loves to live in grassy areas. They have soft fur and big ears, making them cute and fun to watch as they scurry around!

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The Hispid Cotton Rat has a coarse, bristly coat of grizzled gray-brown fur, with lighter white or buff fur on its belly. It has a stocky body, short ears, and a medium-length tail, making it look robust.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseMammaliaOrdenRodentiaFamiliaCricetidaeGéneroSigmodon

Hispid Cotton Rat

Categoría

Mamíferos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

1/5 · Muy bajo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

A mother cotton rat can have up to 15 babies in a single litter, wow!

Cotton rats actually got their name because they love to line their nests with cotton!

They make neat 'runways' through tall grass, like secret highways for their family!

They sometimes 'clip' tall grass stems, leaving little hay piles to dry!

Habilidades especiales

Hispid Cotton Rat has a stiff, coarse coat that helps protect it from minor injuries and predators.

Hispid Cotton Rat can have many litters each year, allowing its population to grow quickly in good conditions.

Hispid Cotton Rat can clip tall grass stems with its sharp teeth, creating clear paths and gathering food.

Hispid Cotton Rat builds intricate nests of grass and plant fibers to keep its babies safe and warm.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 20-36 cm
Peso: 0.05-0.25 kg
Esperanza de vida: 1-2 años
Top Speed: 13 km/h
Tamaño de la camada: 2-15
Gestación: 27 días

Dieta y alimentación

This rat mostly eats plants like grass and seeds, but also enjoys the occasional insect.

Alimentos principales

grass stems
seeds
leaves
insects
fruits

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Coyote

Canis latrans

A common predator in its range.

eaten by

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Hunts cotton rats from above at night.

eaten by

Timber Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Ambushes cotton rats in grassy habitats.

eats

Sorghum

Sorghum bicolor

Consumes seeds and stems of this common crop.

eats

American Grasshopper

Schistocerca americana

An occasional insect part of its varied diet.

Rasgos

Peludo

Peludo describe a los animales que poseen una cubierta densa de pelo o pelaje suave.

Social

Los animales sociales viven en grupos organizados, cooperando para obtener beneficios de supervivencia como la búsqueda de alimento, la defensa y la cría de descendencia.