Cheek pouch capacities and loading rates of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)

Authors

Stephen B. Vander Wall, University of Nevada, Reno
William S. Longland, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program and USDA, Agricultural Research Station, Reno, Nevada

Abstract

Eight deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus were attracted to bait stations in the field and filled their cheek pouches with seeds. Pouch capacity of the deer mice, which have small, internal cheek pouches, was 0.45 ± 0.11 mL, about 12–27% of that carried by similar-sized heteromyid rodents. Cheek pouches of deer mice, although small, give them the capacity to carry 3–5 times more food than unspecialized mice. This presumably increases efficiency of deer mice in exploiting small, particulate food items that are patchily distributed.

Recommended Citation

Vander Wall, Stephen B. and Longland, William S. (1999) "Cheek pouch capacities and loading rates of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus)," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 59: No. 3, Article 10.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol59/iss3/10