Family: Heteromyidae, Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats view all from this family

Description A fairly large pocket mouse. Rough-haired. Dark brown above, with black spines on rump, white spines or bristles on hips; underparts white, separated from upperparts by buff band. Tail dark above with narrower light stripe below; crest about 1/2- 5/8" (12-16 mm) long at tip. L 6 7/8-7 7/8" (176-200 mm); T 3 1/2-4 5/8" (88-118 mm); HF 7/8-1" (21-26 mm); E 1/4- 3/8" (7-9 mm).

Similar Species Bailey's and Desert pocket mice lack spines or bristles on rump. California Pocket Mouse has larger ears, and is found on brushy slopes rather than in low desert. Spiny Pocket Mouse is paler-yellowish or grayish.

Habitat Dry, open, sandy, weedy lowland areas.

Range Extreme sw California, in San Diego vicinity.

Discussion There is little information on the diet of this species, but it appears to eat almost exclusively grass seeds from summer through early winter, switching to seeds of shrubs and annual weeds the rest of the year. This pocket mouse carries the seeds to its burrow and deposits them in separate passages reserved for their storage.