Species › Mammals › Southern Grasshopper Mouse

Southern Grasshopper Mouse

Onychomys torridus

UncommonMammal
Illustration of Southern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys torridus)

The Southern Grasshopper Mouse is a fierce, carnivorous desert rodent that actively hunts scorpions, beetles, and other rodents in the shrub deserts of the southwestern United States. It has evolved an immunity to the venom of the Arizona bark scorpion, and research on its pain-receptor modifications has opened new avenues in pain-management medicine. Like its northern cousin, it raises its head and howls to advertise its territory.

Habitat
Desert shrublands, sandy washes, and semi-arid grasslands
Diet
Scorpions, beetles, other rodents, and seeds
How common
Uncommon

Not certain it is a Southern Grasshopper Mouse? What animal is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Southern Grasshopper Mouse sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Southern Grasshopper Mouse?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More mammals

Southern Plains Woodrat
Southern Plains Woodrat
Neotoma micropus
Southern Pygmy Mouse
Southern Pygmy Mouse
Baiomys musculus
Southern Red-backed Vole
Southern Red-backed Vole
Myodes gapperi
Southern River Otter
Southern River Otter
Lontra provocax
Southern Short-tailed Shrew
Southern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina carolinensis
Southern Spiny Pocket Mouse
Southern Spiny Pocket Mouse
Heteromys australis
Southern Spotted Skunk
Southern Spotted Skunk
Spilogale angustifrons
Southwestern Myotis
Southwestern Myotis
Myotis auriculus