the mexican water mouse , mexican fishing mouse or goodwin 's water mouse ( rheomys mexicanus ) , is a species of semiaquatic rodent in the family cricetidae .

it has a restricted range in the state of oaxaca in southern mexico , threatened by deforestation and water pollution , it is listed as endangered by the international union for conservation of nature ( iucn ) .

mexican water mouse

the mexican water mouse ( rheomys mexicanus ) is a species of rodent in the family cricetidae . it is found only in mexico .
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the mexican mouse opossum ( marmosa mexicana ) is a species of central american opossum in the family didelphidae .
threats to the jumping mouse and its habitat include grazing pressure , water management and use , lack of water due to drought / climate change , wildfires , and certain recreation activities .
the mexican water mouse is endemic to the state of oaxaca , mexico , where it is known from only four sites ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) .
in general , water mice are considered very difficult to capture , and so the exact status of many species is unknown ( 4 ) ( 5 ) . however , the mexican water mouse is believed to be rare and to occupy a limited and severely fragmented range , and has been recorded from only four locations , making it particularly vulnerable ( 1 ) ( 2 ) . the main threats to the species are deforestation , which is reported to be occurring throughout its range , and water pollution . the mexican water mouse is reliant on areas of pristine habitat , and any kind of water pollution , including household pollution from the washing of clothes , is a potential threat to its survival ( 1 ) .
mexican vole order : rodentia family : cricetidae genus : microtus species : m . mexicanus
good indicator of riparian habitat , permanent water ( hafner , 1995 ) * 36 * .
subspecies differ in their use of plant communities and vegetation structures . there are two main groups of deer mouse : the prairie deer mouse and the woodland or forest deer mouse group .
mexican gox squirrel order : rodentia family : sciuridae genus : sciurus species : s . nayaritensis
talks between the united states and mexico about an amnesty for the estimated four million mexican illegal immigrants living here stalled . and mexican diplomats began lobbying for acceptance of the matrícula card .
an example of a management practice that will provide habitat for the mouse and continue to provide necessary water for cattle are what the forest service is calling
cattle lanes
. these cattle lanes will be installed in all of their exclosure areas to maintain access to water for cattle grazing on allotments where fencing is being installed . this will allow cattle to get to needed water while protecting the important vegetation the mouse needs .
four different methods of locomotion are used by the mexican spiny pocket mouse . the fastest is a kangaroo - like leaping gait , during which the mouse can cover 1 . 5 metres ( 5 feet ) in a second .
of mexican spiny pocket mouse and there is considerable differences in color and size between different populations . in general it is a medium - sized member of its genus
provide fresh water in a bowl that is deep enough that when the bowl is half filled and the snake goes in to soak , the water will not overflow into the cage . you want a dry cage . if the humidity increases in the cage to where it looks or feels moist , remove the water and only offer it a couple days a week . clean the water bowl as needed .
the new mexico meadow jumping mouse is a unique subspecies of meadow jumping mouse ; it is a water - loving animal that lives only along the banks of southwestern streams . it is semi - aquatic , and its large back feet may assist it with swimming as well as jumping . unlike other subspecies of meadow jumping mouse , it is never found in meadows or grasslands without suitable perennial water and riparian habitat . it is rarely found more than a few feet ( 1 . 8 m ) from running water .
the mexican water mouse is classed as ‘rare’ by the mexican government ( 8 ) , but there are not known to be any specific conservation measures in place for the species . more research is needed to better understand this little - known rodent , and to determine the status of its populations and its specialised habitat , before appropriate conservation measures can be put in place ( 1 ) .
the mexican water mouse is very similar in appearance to crab - eating rats of the genus ichthyomys , but can be distinguished by its smaller size and by having four rather than five pads on the palm of the forefoot ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) .
mcmullen , s . .
how to grow mexican miniature watermelon
accessed july 08 , 2018 . urltoken
watering - a five gallon container can hold a substantial amount of moisture , so watering should be conducted only when the top couple inches of soil have become dry . water the plants thoroughly , and always allow excess water to drain free . if the plants are left sitting in standing water , they may develop root rot and die !
below are images of just some of the water gaps / lanes near exclosures on the lincoln and santa fe national forests where livestock have full access to water . livestock have been utilizing these gaps extensively with no apparent difficulties .
the mexican spiny pocket mouse feeds on the seeds of hackberry , mesquite , and other shrubs as well as herbaceous plants . these mice have been known to store seeds in burrows .
the mexican spiny pocket mouse has a wide range and is common in suitable habitats within that range . the population size seems to be stable and no particular threats have been identified so the
and there is a report of a forest deer mouse that lived 8 years in captivity ( another mouse was fertile until almost 6 years of age ) .
in east chicago , ind . , immigrants with the mexican identification card , known as the matrícula consular , can now borrow library books and arrange city water services . in cincinnati , police officers accept the card from crime victims , witnesses and suspects .
the nm meadow jumping mouse ( jumping mouse ) is a rare subspecies found primarily near streams and wetlands in parts of new mexico , eastern arizona , and southern colorado .
cactus mouse order : rodentia family : cricetidae genus : peromyscus species : p . eremicus
brush mouse order : rodentia family : cricetidae genus : peromyscus species : p . boylii
the jumping mouse has very specific habitat requirements . it requires perennial or seasonally perennial water and saturated soils that produce tall ( 24 + inch ) herbaceous riparian plants , and intact adjacent uplands ( see image below ) .
arizona pocket mouse order : rodentia family : heteromyidae genus : perognathus species : p . amplus
plains pocket mouse order : rodentia family : heteromyidae genus : perognathus species : p . flavescens
silky pocket mouse order : rodentia family : heteromyidae genus : perognathus species : p . flavus
desert pocket mouse order : rodentia family : heteromyidae genus : chaetodipus species : c . penicillatus
hispid pocket mouse order : rodentia family : heteromyidae genus : chaetodipus species : c . hispidus
western harvest mouse order : rodentia family : cricetidae genus : reithrodontomys species : r . megalotis
northern pygmy mouse order : rodentia family : cricetidae genus : baiomys species : b . taylori
northern grasshopper mouse order : rodentia family : cricetidae genus : onychomys species : o . leucogaster
southern grasshopper mouse order : rodentia family : cricetidae genus : onychomys species : o . torridus
meadow jumping mouse order : rodentia family : zapodidae genus : zapus species : z . hudsonius
mcmullen , s . .
how to grow mexican miniature watermelon .
home guides | sf gate , urltoken accessed 08 july 2018 .
the majority of deer mice nest is up high in large hollow trees . the deer mouse nests alone for the most part but will sometimes nest with a deer mouse of the opposite sex .
long tailed pocket mouse order : rodentia family : heteromyidae genus : chaetodipus species : c . formosus
applicants for the card must apply in person at their local consulate and provide supporting documents like birth certificates , mexican passports and voting cards . in march 2002 , the mexican government introduced an advanced matrícula card with security features , including invisible coding that can be read only with special detectors .
although very few total acres are excluded from grazing , the majority of currently suitable critical habitat , particularly occupied critical habitat , is excluded from livestock grazing . at the same time , there are still many miles of stream and numerous water lanes that provide access for watering cattle . table 2 below shows the high percent of critical habitat stream miles in exclosures on the lincoln national forest , and the miles of stream access remaining in critical habitat . in addition to water access in critical habitat , there are many perennial stream reaches with water access outside critical habitat . no developed water diversions have been included in exclosures .
macmillen , r . e . 1972 . water economy of nocturnal desert rodents . symp . zool . soc . london . 31 : 147 - 174 .
jenkins , pd , and barnett , aa ( 1997 ) : a new species of water mouse , of the genus chibchanomys ( rodentia , muridae , sigmodontinae ) from ecuador . bulletin of the natural history museum : zoology series 63 , 123 - 128 .
mouse melon vines on a homemade twine trellis . the trellis pictured is hand tied with hemp twine .
bailey ' s pocket mouse order : rodentia family : heteromyidae genus : chaetodipus species : c . baileyi
mcmullen , s . . ( n . d . ) . how to grow mexican miniature watermelon . home guides | sf gate . retrieved from urltoken
very little is known about the biology of the mexican water mouse . like other members of the genus , it has a semi - aquatic lifestyle , foraging for a range of aquatic insects , insect larvae , snails and other aquatic invertebrates , and possibly even small fish ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) ( 7 ) . other species have been observed to swim with only the head and the tip of the tail protruding above the water , and with the hind feet used for propulsion ( 5 ) . nothing is known about the reproductive behaviour of these rodents .
this species is threatened by human activities within its range , specifically by continued deforestation and water pollution ( ceballos 2014 ) . any type of water pollution , including household pollution from washing clothes , is considered a threat to this species . deforestation is occurring throughout the range of this species , except in steep riparian areas .
encyclopedia of life . marmosa andersoni : anderson’s mouse possum . accessed 14 december 2012 . available from : urltoken
a steady supply of moisture is required for good fruiting in mexican miniature watermelons . provide 1 inch of water every five to seven days during the summer months , wetting the top 6 to 15 inches of soil each time . during very hot , dry weather , increase water to twice weekly . monitor the soil during prolonged periods of foggy , cool weather and water only if the soil dries out in the top 1 inch . in warm inland areas , spread a 3 - to 4 - inch layer of lightweight mulch around each plant , keeping it from the base of the stems . mulch will help regulate moisture loss while keeping weeds at bay .
in laboratory studies it was found that this pocket mouse was unable to maintain its body weight unless it had access to water . reproduction takes place during much of the year but seems to peak between august and november . litter sizes range from two to eight with four young being typical .
the bush administration and congress remain deeply divided over the issue , with some moderate republicans and some officials from the state and treasury departments offering support for the mexican card .
may 2011 - new mexico meadow jumping mouse included in landmark settlement with the u . s . fish and wildlife service
endangered and threatened wildlife and plants ; designation of critical habitat for the new mexico meadow jumping mouse , final rule .
the mexican miniature watermelon ( melothria scabra ) goes by many common names , including mouse melon and cucumelon . with their oblong shape , green speckled skin and petite , 1 - to 2 - inch length , their fruit look like miniature watermelons , hence their common name . mexican miniature watermelons are carefree plants that will thrive despite neglect , drought and cool temperatures . however , the right growing conditions and a little routine care will help them reach their full potential .
below : a new mexico meadow jumping mouse captured within a livestock exclosure on the lincoln nf ( sept . 2016 ) .
the mouse became a candidate for listing under the endangered species act in december 2007 , and was listed in june 2014 .
march 2008 - wildearth guardians requests that the u . s . forest service reduce livestock grazing in jumping mouse ' s range
lindeborg , r . g . 1952 . water requirements of certain rodents from xeric and mesic habitats . contrib . lab . vert . biol . , univ . michigan 58 : 1 - 32 .
unlike many marsupials , female mexican mouse - opossums do not have pouches . instead , females carry their young on their backs . litters can be as large as thirteen , although most do not survive to maturity . mothers generally eat those young that die in order to recapture some of the nutrients that they have invested .
dalquest , w . e . 1953 . mammals of the mexican state of san luis potosi . louisiana state univ . studies , biol . sci . ser . 1 : 1 - 229 .
mexican officials counter that the older cards are being phased out as people renew their cards . they say their computer databases will soon be updated and that additional security features are in the works .
the currently accepted scientific name for deer mouse is peromyscus maniculatus ( wagner ) [ 51 ] . it is in the family cricetidae ( new world mice ) . hall [ 51 ] listed 67 subspecies , describing the species as a series of intergrading populations . subspecies in the same area may be ecologically distinct . subspecies mentioned in this text include [ 51 ] : cloudland deer mouse ( p . m . nubiterrae ) prairie deer mouse ( p . m . bairdii ) forest deer mouse ( p . m . gracilis )
below : in many areas where access to streamside habitat by livestock is restricted ,
lanes
or corridors are left open and allow cattle access to the much needed water found in these riparian areas .
the forest service provided extensive comments to usfws regarding the listing and is actively exploring potential management and monitoring strategies for the jumping mouse .
july 2010 - wildearth guardians files lawsuit challenging u . s . fish and wildlife service’s failure to list the new mexico meadow jumping mouse
in march 2002 , only a handful of cities and banks recognized the matrícula card , mexican officials say . today , more than 100 cities , 900 police departments , 100 financial institutions and 13 states , including indiana , new mexico and utah , accept the cards , which carry the bearer ' s photo , name and address and are issued by mexican consulates to mexicans regardless of their immigration status .
macmillen , r . e . 1964 . population ecology , water relations , and social behavior of a southern california semidesert rodent fauna . univ . california publ . zool . 71 : 1 - 59 . -
on march 16 , 2016 , the usfws designated critical habitat for the jumping mouse , with an effective date of april 15 , 2016 .
balčiauskas , l , and balčiauskenė , l ( 2012 ) : mediterranean water shrew , neomys anomalus cabrera , 1907 – a new mammal species for lithuania north - western journal of zoology 8 , 367 - 369 .
the mexican spiny pocket mouse occurs in central and northeastern mexico and the extreme south of texas . it inhabits a variety of semi - arid brushy or rocky habitats , and is common where it lives . the
pockets
of the pocket mouse are fur - lined cheek pouches , where seeds are carried from the foraging area to the burrow . mexican spiny pocket mice are grayish - brown , with white underparts . on the back , a mixture of stiff spiny hairs and soft ones gives the animal a somewhat coarse appearance . these mice are nocturnal and are active year - round .
links : mammal species of the world click here for the american society of mammalogists species account
noting those found during focus on nature tours in mexico with an ( * ) tours during the months of march , june , august september , & november . this list of mexican mammals compiled by armas hill
krystufek , b , davison , a , and griffiths , hi ( 2000 ) : evolutionary biogeography of water shrews ( neomys spp . ) in the western palaearctic region . canadian journal of zoology 78 , 1616 - 1625 .
they are populous in the western mountains and live in wooded areas and areas that were previously wooded . the deer mouse is generally a nocturnal creature .
lewis , a . w . 1972 . seasonal population changes in the cactus mouse , peromyscus eremicus . southwestern nat . 17 : 85 - 93 .
macmillen , r . e . 1965 . aestivation in the cactus mouse peromyscus eremicus . comp . biochem . physiol . 16 : 227 - 248 .
is an abundant species , often among the most abundant mouse species of certain areas ( lter 1998 ) . densities can reach 11 mice per acre ( baker 1983 ) . quantity and quality of foods , availability of water , number and distribution of nest sites , architecture of living and dead vegetation , and depth and density of litter are some ecological factors proposed to affect the density of
many nongame mammals in arizona are poorly known . entire species complexes , such as the voles , gophers , and several genera of mice , have yet to be studied using modern genetic science . the ecology and distribution of some of these species is also poorly known . among those in need of field study are the water shrew , jumping mouse , and several species of pocket mice .
officials at the federal bureau of investigation and department of homeland security say this is worrisome because they believe the card is vulnerable to fraud and misuse by criminals and terrorists , a contention that mexican and some american officials dispute .
deer mouse breeding tends to be determined more by food availability rather than by season . in plumas county , california , deer mice bred through december in good
collecting seeds - if you wish to replant mouse melons the next season , the steps for seed collection is quite easy . to collect seeds , allow the mouse melon fruits to become so ripe on the plants that they fall off . the fruit that fall from the plant can then be collected and placed in a warm area in your home to ripen even further for a few more days . after they have fully ripened , cut the fruit open and squeeze the seeds out into a glass of declorinated water . allow the seeds to sit in the water for a few days , or until they begin to fall to the bottom . strain off any excess plant material left behind and allow the seeds to dry on a paper towel . once dry , store them in a paper envelope .
; fungi have the least amount of intake . throughout the year , the deer mouse will change its eating habits to reflect on what is available to eat during that season . during winter months , the arthropods compose of one - fifth of the deer mouse ' s food . these include spiders , caterpillars , and
with its streamlined body , small , almost inconspicuous ears , and large , paddle - shaped hind feet , the mexican water mouse is well adapted to its semi - aquatic lifestyle . the hind feet are also partially webbed and are fringed with hair , giving extra propulsion in the water , and the long , furred tail , which is longer than the length of the head and body , may also aid in swimming ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) . the short , dense , glossy fur is dark brown on the upperparts , often with a few longer , silvery outer hairs , and silvery white on the underparts , while the tail is also dark above and white below . the muzzle is quite blunt , with thin , stiff whiskers , and the eyes are tiny . juveniles are reported to be slate grey in colour ( 4 ) .
mexican miniature watermelons are grown as annual vegetables in most areas , although they are technically tender perennials like tomatoes ( solanum lycopersicum ) . they require a long growing season with at least 65 to 75 days of warm , frost - free weather and soil temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees fahrenheit to bear fruit . gardeners in cooler areas can grow mexican miniature watermelons in pots and move them indoors to a warm , bright room when nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees fahrenheit .
through collaborative efforts , adaptive management measures that provide for the protection of the mouse and the continuation of grazing have been developed and agreed to on 13 of the 14 allotments . the protective measures generally provide for exclusion of livestock grazing in most of the currently occupied critical habitat and a portion of the unoccupied critical habitat , and primarily consist of combinations of riparian exclosures , upland water developments , and other range improvements to reduce grazing pressure on riparian areas . no reductions in permitted numbers or significant change in season of use was required on any allotment . permittees have access to all working facilities and water developments . efforts to reach an approved solution on the final allotment are continuing .
alternatively known as the mexican sour gherkin or cucamelon , the mouse melon is a rarely cultivated member of the cucumber family that is steadily gaining popularity in heirloom gardens . the species melothria scabra is characterized as a prolific vine that produces an ample amount of tiny fruit . although they look like little melons , the fruit taste more like a citrusy cucumber ! since the plants possess a small stature , they are the perfect choice for container gardeners looking to do a little pickling . don ' t let the summer season pass you by , come learn how to grow mouse melons today .
i never heard of mouse melons . they look and sound interesting to try , if they ' re available in your local area or to grow . thanks for sharing .
o’neill , m , nagorsen , d , and baker , r ( 2005 ) : mitochondrial dna variation in water shrews ( sorex palustris , sorex bendirii ) from western north america : implications for taxonomy and phylogeography . canadian journal of zoology 83 , 1469 - 1475 .
do you have a seed source for this mouse melon ? i would love to try it this summer . great hub . voted up , useful , tweet , & pin .
the department ( nmdgf ) should continue to encourage land managers to protect and enhance known or potential areas of meadow jumping mouse occurrence ( nmdgf , 1994 ) * 32 * .
44 - morrison , j . l . 1992 . persistence of the meadow jumping mouse , zapus hudsonius luteus , in new mexico . southwestern naturalist . 37 : 308 - 311 .
tessier , nathalie , sarah noel , and francois lapointe ( 2004 ) .
a new method to discriminate the deer mouse ( peromyscus maniculatus ) from the white - footed mouse ( peromyscus leucopus ) using species - specific primers in multiplex pcr
. canadian journal of zoology 82 ( 11 ) : 1832–35 . doi : 10 . 1139 / z04 - 173 .
for more than a century , the card was used to ensure that mexican immigrants could receive consular assistance in dealing with american employers and police and help in shipping belongings home or relatives back for burial . the card was not typically used for dealing with american authorities .
given that a majority of the remaining mouse habitat is on federal land , the usfws has been working closely with the usda forest service southwestern region ( usfs ) ( apache - sitgraves national forest , lincoln national forest , and santa fe national forest ) . these two agencies have come together to develop conservation measures that will protect the jumping mouse , continue livestock grazing on usfs lands , and provide those cattle with continued access to needed water . since the final listing announcement there has been much concern voiced by some members of the livestock industry , and it is the goal of the usfs and usfws to work with the livestock industry to address these concerns .
july 11 , 2014 - wildearth guardians warns the u . s . forest service that it will sue the federal agency to require greater protection of the streamside habitat of the new mexico meadow jumping mouse
the deer mouse is small in size , only 3 to 4 inches ( 8 to 10 cm ) long , not including the tail . they have large beady eyes and large ears giving them good
mexican miniature watermelons are light to moderate feeders , depending on their soil . those grown in organically rich soil require no chemical fertilizers . amend lean or porous soil with a 2 - inch layer of compost worked into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil prior to planting . also , add 1 tablespoon of 6 - 10 - 10 analysis fertilizer to each planting hole to improve the soil ' s nutrient content . once established , mexican miniature watermelons need no supplemental feeding apart from a light , 3 - inch side - dressing of compost each month starting roughly two months after planting .
in cactus mice , torpor is mainly circadian ( torpid by day , active by night ) ; ( macmillen , 1972 ) and can be employed anytime their energy supplies become limited ( morhardt and hudson , 1966 ) . macmillen ( 1965 , 1972 ) distinguished between winter ( circadian ) torpor , induced only by food restriction , and summer torpor , which may be circadian or may last two to three months . summer torpor was induced by food restriction or by imposing a negative water balance . according to macmillen ( 1964 , 1965 ) , cactus mice aestivate during the summer to conserve water and prolong food reserves .
deer mouse pups usually disperse after weaning and before the birth of the next litter , when they are reaching sexual maturity . occasionally juveniles remain in the natal area , particularly when breeding space is limited .
this month , cincinnati followed suit . officials say the move would be a boon to local economies , encouraging mexican immigrants to pour money into banks and businesses . they also say immigrants with bank accounts will be less vulnerable to criminals who prey on people who carry cash or keep money at home .
churchﬁeld , s ( 2007 ) : habitat use by water shrews , the smallest of amphibious . in n . dunstone , and m . l . gorman ( eds ) : behaviour and ecology of riparian mammals , vol . 71 . cambridge university press , new york , usa , pp . 49 - 69 .
but in recent months , mr . montes de oca and other undocumented immigrants from mexico have begun stepping out of the shadows . this summer , indianapolis and seven other midwestern cities started accepting an identity card issued by the mexican government , offering mexicans who are here illegally a startlingly new sense of legitimacy .
these days , the mexican consul here , sergio aguilera , drives from city to city , making his pitch . this week , he shuttled between east chicago , where he met with the mayor , and indianapolis , where he tried to persuade credit union executives to join the businesses that accept the card .
because the two species are extremely similar in appearance , they are best distinguished through red blood cell agglutination tests or karyotype techniques . the deer mouse can also be distinguished physically by its long and multicolored tail .
in a survey of small mammals on 29 sites in subalpine forests in colorado and wyoming , the deer mouse had the highest frequency of occurrence ; however , it was not always the most abundant small mammal .
harvesting - once flowering is underway , the tiny mouse melon fruit won ' t be far behind . harvest the fruit when they have reached a nice plump size and are about one to one and half inches in length . pick the first few at a bit of an earlier stage to force more fruit production . after pollination , it takes about 2 - 3 weeks for the mouse melon fruit to reach a harvestable size .
73 - u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2013 . endangered and threatened wildlife and plants ; listing determination for the new mexico meadow jumping mouse . federal register 78 : 37363 - 37369 . urltoken view document
84 - u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2016 . endangered and threatened wildlife ; designation of critical habitat for the new mexico meadow jumping mouse . 81 ( 51 ) : 14264 - 14325 . view document
96 - wright , g . and frey , j . 2010 . cool season activity of the meadow jumping mouse in the middle rio grande . share with wildlife , new mexico department of game and fish . view document
albert g . huntington , the mayor of madison , ind . , agreed . mr . huntington said he could not ignore the needs of the mexican workers who were increasingly filling jobs in his small town . recognition of the matrícula card , he said , was simply a reflection of the demographic changes rippling across the midwest .
below : grazing permittees and the us forest service meet on the santa fe national forest to discuss ways of protecting the jumping mouse and its critical habitat without having to adjust the permitted number of livestock or season of use .
females deer mice can have many litters in a year . in the wild , reproduction may not occur during winter or other unfavorable seasons . females are able to become pregnant again shortly after giving birth . the pregnancy of a female deer mouse that is not nursing young lasts from 22 . 4 to 25 . 5 days and the pregnancy of a female deer mouse that is nursing young lasts 24 . 1 to 30 . 6 days . deer mice may have litters containing from one to eleven young with typical litters containing four , five , or six babies . litter size increases each time a female deer mouse gives birth until the fifth or sixth litter and decreases afterwards .
is composed of a mixture of stiff spines with soft hairs , but because the hairs lie flat , the spines are the more noticeable part of the coat . the upper parts of the head and body are greyish - brown and the underparts whitish . there is a pinkish or buff lateral line separating the two colors . juveniles are grey and initially lack spines which grow through the coat later . the soles of the feet are haired and the mexican spiny pocket mouse is unique in its genus in possessing five rather than six tubercles on the hind foot .
the new mexico meadow jumping mouse has seen a significant population decline . this decline is mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation across its range . about 95 percent of the range is found on federal and state lands . based on the further threat of habitat loss , the u . s . fish and wildlife service ( usfws ) designated the new mexico meadow jumping mouse as endangered under the endangered species act ( esa ) on june 9 , 2014 .
' ' they ' re coming , one way or another , ' ' said mr . huntington , who has decided to offer city services to mexican immigrants in his town of 12 , 500 people . ' ' so you have a choice . you can recognize them or you can ignore them and allow problems to develop . ' '
not surprisingly , mouse melons turned out to be one of my most productive patio crops of the 2013 season . the two plants that i grew produced handfuls of the delicious little cucamelons . the majority of them were enjoyed fresh , but i did pickle a jarful to see how they held up . using a rustic dill pickle recipe , the mouse melons turned out great ! although they lose a bit of their crispness , they ' re still very good . in the end , this is one heirloom that will definitely be grown again ! thanks for reading this guide on how to grow mouse melons . as always , please feel free to leave any comments or questions you may have .
full sun and rich , fast - draining soil provide the best conditions for growing mexican miniature watermelons . choose a growing site with full southern exposure and at least 12 square - inches of space for each plant . as vining plants , mexican miniature watermelons need a support structure to keep their stems and fruit off the ground , so install a small trellis or tomato cage for them to grow on . start the seeds indoors three to six weeks before the last spring frost , sowing them in starter pots at a depth of 1 / 2 to 1 inch . transplant the seedlings 12 inches apart after all frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed to 75 degrees fahrenheit .
the usfws and usfs will be establishing three working groups ; media , science / survey monitoring , and management coordination that will address the needs of both the jumping mouse and people who use the national forests for their livelihood or recreation .
80 - u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2014 . endangered and threatened wildlife and plants ; determination of endangered status for the new mexico meadow jumping mouse throughout its range . federal register 79 : 33119 - 33137 . view document
the meadow jumping mouse apparently requires relatively dense vegetation for population persistence , and its scarcity may be related to livestock overgrazing in streamside habitats ( clark and stromberg 1987 ) . periodic severe flooding may also contribute to its rarity ( finch , 1992 )
the card has been issued by the mexican government for more than 100 years to keep track of its citizens in the united states . but across this country cities and states are increasingly recognizing the card , too , as officials seek ways to identify residents in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of sept . 11 , 2001 , and try to better serve immigrants .
deer mice are abundant , often among the most abundant mice of certain areas . densities can reach 11 mice per acre . many factors including availablity of food , water , and nest sites are thought to affect how many deer mice can live in an area . however , only the availability of food has been studied in enough detail to show it has an effect on population density .
83 - u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2014 . species status assessment report : new mexico meadow jumping mouse ( zapus hudsonius luteus ) . listing review team , u . s . fish and wildlife service , albuquerque , nm . view document
mouse melons may not require a seasoned gardener to help them grow properly , but they will require a few basic necessities that only the gardener can provide . here ' s a look at what you ' ll need to keep your vines healthy throughout the season .
table 1 : this table presents the number and approximate total acreage of grazing allotments on which critical habitat for the new mexico meadow jumping mouse occurs for the lincoln and santa fe national forests ( as of july 5 , 2016 , and subject to change ) .
specific forms of management ( e . g . fencing of riparian areas , additional water developments , seasonal restrictions of certain activities , etc . ) have been undertaken to ensure that public - land cattle grazing can continue in close proximity to protected nmmjm habitat . in addition , some nmmjm habitat will continue to be grazed at a level that is likely to provide at least some conservation value for the species .
while mouse melon vines will grow with ease and relatively little care from the gardener , they still need a few things from you ! follow the steps below , and you ' ll be well on your way to harvesting a ton of these tiny cucumbers / melons .
some uses of national forests may affect the jumping mouse or its critical habitat when they occur in or along streams and wetlands , and when they do the usfs is required to enter into esa section 7 consultations with the u . s . fish & wildlife service .
the meadow jumping mouse apparently requires relatively dense vegetation for population persistence , and its scarcity may be related to livestock overgrazing in streamside habitats ( clark and stromberg 1987 ) . periodic severe flooding may also contribute to its rarity ( finch , 1992 ) * 20 * .
mexican miniature watermelons are resilient , attractive and productive plants , but there are drawbacks to consider when growing them . they self - seed readily in warm , frost - free locations , which can create a forest of unwanted seedlings . picking the fruit before it fully ripens and drops will help eliminate unwanted seedlings , as will raking up any fallen fruit before it breaks down and the seeds disseminate .
state wildlife management agencies in arizona , colorado and new mexico have considered the jumping mouse a species of management concern for several years . the state of new mexico listed the species as threatened in 1983 and upgraded it to endangered status in 2006 , where it remains today .
fence construction on national forests lands will be limited to areas that are currently occupied by the mouse . this amounts to less that . 3 % of the 22 allotments where the mouse occurs . in the apache - sitgreaves nf there are 12 allotments totaling approximately 272 , 977 acres , of which only 698 acres ( 0 . 29 % ) is occupied ; the lincoln nf has 4 allotments ( 153 , 903 acres ) of which 272 acres are occupied ; and in the santa fe nf there are 6 allotments ( 180 , 212 acres ) of which only 283 acres are occupied .
is a medium - sized mouse with rough pelage covering the upper body . the hairs are flattened with sharp points and grooves . the upper fur is dark gray with an orange tint . white fur covers the underside of the mouse except for the heel of the hind foot . the tail is covered with sparse hairs and is bicolored , brown above and white below . they possess external , fur lined , cheek pouches . the dental formula is that of a typical heteromyid rodent : i 1 / 1 , c 0 / 0 , pm 1 / 1 , m 3 / 3 . the average weight of
thirty - four arizona mammals are identified as species of greatest conservation need . nine are also federally listed as endangered under the endangered species act . three of these species are extinct , and five have disappeared from arizona , although reintroduction efforts are underway for two ( black - footed ferret and mexican wolf ) . most other imperiled species have very small , local populations that face a variety of threats . some species are tied to riparian or native grassland habitats .
the apache - sitgreaves , santa fe , and lincoln national forests have populations of the jumping mouse and designated critical habitat units . there are approximately 7 , 713 acres ( encompassing approximately 100 stream miles ) among these three forests that are within critical habitat . there are 14 allotments with permitted grazing in critical habitat .
28 - zwank , phillip j . , et al . 1994 . habitat use and population status of the meadow jumping mouse at bosque del apache national wildlife refuge . in : abstracts from presentations at arizona / new mexico chapters of the wildlife society , sierra vista , az . february 4 and 5 , 1994 .
91 - wright , g . and frey , j . 2011 . cool / winter activity of the new mexico meadow jumping mouse . final report prepared for the share with wildlife program , new mexico department of game and fish , santa fe , nm , contract # 11 - 516 - 0000 - 000017 view document
water requirements , body temperature , and metabolism of p . eremicus have been studied in relation to adaptations to desert living by lindeborg ( 1952 ) , murie ( 1961 ) , mcnab and morrison ( 1963 ) , macmillen ( 1964 , 1965 ) , and morhardt and hudson ( 1966 ) . murie ( 1961 ) reported p . eremicus to have a 10 to 20 % lower metabolic rate and to resort to saliva spreading for evaporative cooling at high temperatures less readily than p . maniculatus .
the jumping mouse hibernates for approximately nine months ( around mid - sept to mid - june ) out of the year . therefore , it is only awake and active for about three months per year and must replenish energy , breed , rear young , and then accumulate sufficient fat reserves to sustain them through the next hibernation .
unlike many marsupials , female mouse opossums do not possess a pouch to protect the young as they develop . the young are so undeveloped their eyes do not open until 39 to 40 days . it is likely that the young are completely weaned after around 65 days , and they may have an incredibly short life span of only one year .
on june 10 , 2014 , the u . s . fish and wildlife service ( usfws ) listed the jumping mouse as an endangered species , with an effective date of july 10 , 2014 . the need for the listing was attributed to a
significant reduction in occupied localities likely due to cumulative habitat loss and fragmentation across the range
.
60 - morrison , j . l . 1990 . the meadow jumping mouse in new mexico : habitat preferences and management recommendations . pp 136 - 141 . in proceedings of the symposium on managing wildlife in the southwest ( p . r . krausman and n . s . smith eds . ) . arizona chapter , the wildlife society , phoenix .
this mouse lives in dense vegetation and near rocky mountain slopes or stone fences . it has been found in the dense brush along the banks of the rio grande river and beside oxbow lakes , in subtropical palm forests , thickets of prickly pear cactus , and in chaparral . they build burrows that have their opening closed off by vegetation or mounds of dirt .
during the process to determine whether the new mexico meadow jumping mouse should be listed , we sought comments from independent specialists to ensure that our designation is based on scientifically sound data , assumptions , and analyses . we invited these peer reviewers to comment on our listing proposal . we also considered all comments and information received from the public and other sources during the comment period .
fertile & well draining soil - like most other fruiting garden crops , mouse melons will need plenty of nutrition and ample soil drainage to produce at their maximum . the soil that they will be grown in should be amended with compost or aged manure in order to provide nutrition that will last all season . for soil drainage , perlite or small porous lava rocks can be added .
. during the spring months , seeds become available to eat , along with insects , which are consumed in large quantities . leaves are also found in the stomachs of deer mice in the spring seasons . during summer months , the mouse consumes seeds and fruits . during the fall season , the deer mice will slowly change its eating habits to resemble the winter ' s diet .
the mouse melon vine is native to mexico and surrounding central america . these plants grow quickly and produce fruit for a long period throughout the summer season . while the vines can reach lengths in excess of ten feet , they can be easily trained to grow on compact twine trellises . other than their need to grow on something , the vines are relatively low maintenance and disease free !
have remarkable manipulative powers . it uses this ability to burrow in the ground . the burrow can be 30 mm in diameter and 40 cm in length . the mouse - opossum then fills the burrow with leaves to create a nest . more commonly it creates nests in trees especially abandoned bird nests . when threatened it can become aggressive , opening its mouth and hissing or a clicking noise .
five gallon planter - gardeners who plant to grow these in containers will be very happy to hear that they can and will grow just fine ! unlike standard cucumbers that require much larger containers to reach their full potential , the mouse melons will produce heavily in a five gallon container ! for the best results , use a clay or wood container with plenty of holes in the bottom for drainage .
compost tea as a foliar spray - every other week , or after soaking rains , mist the upper and undersides of the mouse melon foliage with a compost tea spray . this natural spray will not only provide extra nutrition for the plant , but it will also create healthier leaves . forming a thin residue on the foliage , the compost tea will also help to create a natural insect barrier !
the forest service is facing a difficult decision . it will have to weigh its mandate to protect the mouse ' s habitat against the needs of local ranchers , recreationists , and other animals . the plaintiffs greatly value their access to the grazing allotments . the surrounding communities greatly value the ranchers and their work . ultimately , the forest service must consider the full panoply of human and environmental impacts .
deer mice occur throughout most of north america and are abundant in most areas . deer mouse is the most widely distributed peromyscus species [ 51 ] . deer mice are distributed from quebec and new brunswick west to yukon territory and southeast alaska ; south to baja california and through the sierra madre to southern mexico ; south in central texas to the gulf of mexico ; and south in the appalachian mountains to northern georgia [ 57 , 127 ] .
pollination - an important part to the production of fruit on the mouse melon vine is proper pollination of the flowers . since the vines produce both male and female flowers on the same plant , they will need some form of insect to properly move pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers . to ensure that pollination is occurring , observe the plant for pollinator activity . if no pollinators are present , you can use a cotton swab to manually pollinate the flowers .
the mouse should leave a lump in the kingsnake a little larger than the snake’s normal diameter mid body . until the snake is established with you , do not handle it until the lump has digested down to normal diameter of the snake . feeding once a week will maintain your california kingsnake , but the snake will grow faster if you feed it twice a week or more , if it will take it . once the kingsnake reaches adult size , avoid obesity . reduce feeding if necessary .
is very altricial at birth but develops quickly . at birth , the deer mouse has a mass of about 1 . 5 g . the young are born hairless with wrinkled , pink skin , closed eyes , and folded over ear pinnae . juvenile hair begins to develop on the second day after birth . on the third day , the pinnae unfold with the ear canal opening on the tenth day . eyes open on the fifteenth day , and the young are weaned between day 25 and 35 .
are seasonally polyestrous with an estrous cycle of about five days . in the wild , reproduction may not occur during winter or other unfavorable seasons ( lter 1998 ) . females exhibit post - partum estrus and are able to become pregnant shortly after giving birth ( baker 1983 ) . the gestation period of a nonlactating female deer mouse lasts from 22 . 4 to 25 . 5 days and 24 . 1 to 30 . 6 days in a lactating female ( kirkland and layne 1989 ) . litter size is highly variable between populations .


the plymouth red-bellied turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ) , sometimes called the plymouth red-bellied cooter , the first freshwater turtle in the us to be listed as endangered , by the united states fish and wildlife service was found only in plymouth county , massachusetts before the state began trying to establish populations in other areas .

current thinking is that they are not a full subspecies and that they belong in synonymy under pseudemys rubriventris or northern red-bellied cooter .

nevertheless , it is well recognized that the plymouth red-bellied turtle extends the range of the northern red-bellied cooter by 30 – 40 percent .

in 1983 , massasoit national wildlife refuge was established to help conserve the plymouth red-bellied turtle .

this turtle gets its name from its reddish plastron or undershell .

they have flattened or slightly concave vertebral scutes with a red bar on each marginal scute .

their upper shell or carapace ranges from brown to black .

an arrow-shaped stripe runs atop head , between the eyes , to their snout .

adults are 10 – 16 inches ( 25 – 41 cm ) .

males have elongated , straight claws on the front feet .

it lives in the plymouth pinelands of the massachusetts and spends most of its time in freshwater ponds .

in spring and summer , the females nest in sand while the males look for food .

females lay 5 – 17 eggs at a time .

the incubation of the eggs takes 73 to 80 days , and the eggs hatch at around 25 °c ( 77 °f ) .

hatchlings are about 32 millimetres ( 1.3 in ) long .

eggs and young turtles are prey to skunks , raccoons , birds , and fish .

their natural lifespan is 40 to 45 years .

the population had been reduced to 200 – 300 turtles by the 1980s .

by 2007 , there were estimated to be 400 – 600 breeding age turtles across 20 ponds .

this is due to overhunting by its natural predator the skunk and pollution from herbicides dumped into streams and ponds .

loss of habitat , as a result of filling in ponds to create houses is also a major issue .

plymouth red - bellied turtle

(
species turtle , red - bellied , plymouth
, 1996 ;
plymouth rebelly turtle habitat model
, 2001 ; ernst , et al . , 1994 )
1996 .
species turtle , red - bellied , plymouth
( on - line ) . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
glenn , c . r . 2006 .
earth ' s endangered creatures - plymouth red - bellied turtle facts
( online ) . accessed
the plymouth red - bellied turtle is thought to be limited to about 17 ponds and one river site in plymouth county , massachusetts . the total number of breeding individuals is believed to be about 300 .
the plymouth red - bellied turtle prefers deep , permanent ponds with nearby sandy areas for nesting , and surrounding vegetation of pine barrens or mixed deciduous forest .
plymouth red - bellied turtle .
beacham ' s guide to the endangered species of north america . . retrieved july 09 , 2018 from urltoken urltoken
wikipedia article copyright notice : this article is licensed under the gnu free documentation license . it uses material from the wikipedia article
plymouth red - bellied turtle
.
plymouth red - bellied turtle .
beacham ' s guide to the endangered species of north america . . encyclopedia . com . ( july 9 , 2018 ) . urltoken
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1985 .
plymouth red - bellied turtle recovery plan .
u . s . fish and wildlife service , newton corner , massachusetts .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1994 .
plymouth red - bellied turtle recovery plan , second revision .
u . s . fish and wildlife service , newton corner , massachusetts .
red - bellied turtles are considered endangered according to the endangered species act of 1973 . the subspecies
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi is the scientific name for the common named plymouth red - bellied cooter . these turtles can be found in deep ponds , lakes , streams , rivers , and marshes . they mostly live in freshwater .
2001 .
plymouth rebelly turtle habitat model
( on - line ) . usfws gulf of maine watershed habitat analysis . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
eastern red - bellied turtles act as both predator and prey . their prey include crayfish , snails , fish , and tadpoles . predators of
the plymouth red - bellied turtle is believed to be a subspecies of the eastern red - bellied turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris ) . some biologists argue that the subspecies only exists because of a taxonomic error , and that the plymouth red - bellied turtle is only an isolated population of the eastern red - bellied turtle . nevertheless , the subspecies is classified as endangered throughout its entire range in massachusetts . the eastern red - bellied turtle is a shy pond turtle species . adults grow from 10 to 15 inches in length . their carapaces are brown to black with flat scutes . their heads are arrow - like in shape with stripes that run between the eyes and to the nose . the plastron ( undershell ) is reddish in color , giving the red - bellied turtle its name . males have long claws on their front feet . eastern red - bellied turtles can be found in deep ponds , lakes , streams and rivers . they can often be found basking not too far from the water . diet consists of snails , slugs , crayfish , tadpoles , and aquatic plants . mating occurs in the spring , and nesting from june to july . females lay from 8 to 20 eggs , and the hatchlings emerge 10 to 15 weeks later . the young turtles sometimes remain in the nest throughout the winter . in massachusetts , these turtles are said to be very vulnerable ( as eggs and young turtles ) to predation by skunks , raccoons , birds , and fish , and the population was reduced to 200 to 300 turtles in the 1980s . conservation efforts include preservation of the turtles habitat and protection of the nests . there are also several head start programs in place in massachusetts to help raise hatchlings until they are able to survive on their own .
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi , also known as the plymouth red - bellied turtle , or the northern red - bellied cooter , has been listed as endangered and protected under the endangered species act of 1973 since april 2 , 1980 ( 3 ) . until recently , the turtle was classified taxonomically as a subspecies due to differences in shell morphology ( 4 ) . when it was later found that this species showed no difference in morphology or genetics from the mid - atlantic red - bellied turtles pseudemys rubriventris ( 4 ) , the national wilderness institute filed a petition in 1997 asking that pseudemys rubriventris bangsi be removed from the endangered species list due to taxonomical error at the time of listing ( 2 ) .
eat the hatchlings and eggs . red - bellied turtles escape predators by burying themselves in the mud , swimming aggressively , or by withdrawing into their shells .
the northern red - bellied cooter ( pseudemys rubriventris pop . ) is endemic to ponds in eastern massachusetts [ 1 ] . it formerly occurred in a patchy distribution in most of the state ' s coastal counties including essex , middlesex , plymouth , barnstable , and dukes . the only non - coastal county with a historical record is worcester . today it occurs only in plymouth county .
roy mcdiarmid ( pers . comm . , june 2001 ) indicates that current thinking is that the massachusetts populations previously referred to as pseudemys rubriventris bangsi babcock , 1937 ( plymouth red - bellied turtle ) , which are listed as endangered by the us fish & wildlife service , are not a full subspecies ; they belong in synonymy under p . rubriventris ( leconte , 1830 )
in 1983 , the massasoit national wildlife refuge was established to help conserve the plymouth red - bellied turtles . at the current moment , measures are being taken to preserve the turtle ' s habitats and protecting of the nests . there are many
head start
programs in massachusetts to help raise the hatchlings until they are big and strong enough to survive on their own .
table 1 : number and locations of hs hatchlings in plymouth county , ma from 1984 - 2006 ( 3 ) .
at maturity , the plymouth red - bellied turtle , pseudemys rubriventris bangsii , achieves a carapace ( upper shell ) length of up to 12 in ( 31 cm ) . the carapace is typically black to deep mahogany with reddish vertical bars , but color and patterning vary widely . the male undershell ( plastron ) is pale pink , overlaid with a dark mottling . the female under - shell is a brilliant coral red . the upper jaw is notched and displays distinct cusps .
archaeological evidence suggests that this species occurred in a fairly restricted area of eastern massachusetts defined by ipswich , concord , and martha ' s vineyard . a closely related subspecies , the red - bellied turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris rubriventris ) , ranges from north carolina to southern new jersey .
red - bellied turtles were economically important to humans in the colonial times as a source of food and trade . today , their shells make decorative art . doctors have an interest in the workings of the turtles ' hearts and have performed operations recorded in scientific journals . red - bellied turtles also help control the population of hyacinth , an invasive aquatic plant .
the carapace of the red - bellied turtle can measure from 10 – 16 in and is dark brown or black in color ( 1 , 3 ) . the scutes ( modified scales ) on the carapace are flat and nearly concave ( 1 ) . there is also a red bar on the marginal scutes . the name red - bellied comes from the reddish color of the plastron , which is also accompanied by dark markings ( 1 ) . sexual dimorphism is evident at 5 to 7 years ( 3 ) with males having long , straight claws on front limbs ( 1 ) .
other negative impacts on this turtle include incidental mortality from highway traffic , occasional shooting , and use as pets . another threat could arise in the future if pond levels were subject to extensive draw downs as might occur if the plymouth aquifer were tapped as a water source for metropolitan areas . such draw downs could affect the turtle ' s food supply as well as cover .
red - bellied turtles are diurnal reptiles , spending most of their days basking on logs and swimming . they are most active from april to october . during winter , when water is covered with ice ,
eastern redbelly turtle
( on - line ) . enature . accessed 03 / 19 / 03 at urltoken .
the turtles hibernate in mud at the bottoms of rivers during the winter time . the description of a red - bellied turtle , as you can see , is a brown / black carapace and concave scutes . each scute has a red bar and there is a stripe on the head . scutes are lightly marked and the males have straight claws on front feet . dimensions are 10 - 15 inches . these turtles breed during june and july . there are 8 - 20 eggs in a clutch , dimension of egg is 1 inch . time period it takes to hatch is 10 - 15 weeks , but sometimes they don ' t hatch until the following year . their natural lifespan is 40 - 45 years . the red - bellied turtle gets its name from its reddish plastron .
the loss of federal protections and the associated recovery plan could have resulted in drastic population declines . in 1996 , there was new criteria for which a species could be considered endangered ; this was beneficial to protecting the plymouth red - bellied turtle ( 3 ) . the 1996 disjunct / discrete population segment policy allows populations to be considered on their own for extinction risks if there is significant reproductive isolation ( 3 ) . this lack of interbreeding with the rest of the species could be due to physiological , behavioral , ecological and / or physical factors ( 3 ) . in the case of pseudemys rubriventris bangsi , the nearest population is approximately 250 miles south ; this significant isolation distance may have existed for hundreds of years ( 3 ) . isolation and the lack of any migratory evidence have led to the plymouth red - bellied turtle being granted the status of a discrete population segment , under which it maintains its endangered designation under the endangered species act ( 3 ) . many recommend that the name bangsi be retained , even though it is no longer an official subspecies . some experts claim that the extinction of the plymouth population would result in a 40 % reduction in the range of the species ( 3 ) .
to counter habitat loss , the nature conservancy included several turtle ponds in its land registry program in massachusetts . under this system , landowners voluntarily agreed to avoid activities on their lands that would harm the turtle . this voluntary program provided the nucleus for the establishment of a permanent federal wildlife refuge in 1986 . the refuge includes all turtle ponds known to be inhabited and others that were once inhabited .
3 . michael j . amaral . northern red - bellied cooter ( pseudemys rubriventris ) 5 - year review : summary and evaluation may 3 , 2007 u . s . fish and wildlife service new england field office concord , new hampshire urltoken
5 . aquatic oxygen consumption by wintering red - bellied turtles terry e . graham ; robert w . guimond journal of herpetology , vol . 29 , no . 3 . ( sep . , 1995 ) , pp . 471 - 474 .
the carapaces of adult red - bellied turtles are on average 26 to 32 cm in length . the carapace is a mahogany black color with red lines running dorso - ventrally . they have a serrated front upper - jaw . the head is brown and arrow - shaped with a yellow line that extends between the eyes and snout . a series of consecutive thick and thin yellow bands come off the anterior of the eye and travel laterally down the neck . this species exhibits sexual dimorphism . the plastrons of male red - bellied turtles are light pink . they have long , straight claws on their feet and an anal opening that extends beyond the shell . the females are larger than the males with brighter red plastrons containing gray borders . the hatchlings of
the greatest threat to this turtle is its limited distribution . many of the habitat ponds are within an area of only 1 , 500 acres ( 607 hectares ) . in the early 1980s , plymouth county experienced a development boom . pondshore land , in particular , was considered prime for residential development . the massachusetts wetlands protection act provided some protection against alteration of turtle pond habitats . but even when ponds were left intact by construction , houses and roads eliminated nesting and basking sites .
eastern red - bellied turtles inhabit large freshwater lakes , rivers , ponds , and creeks . most of these waters are fast moving , deep - bodied , and contain a muddy bottom where the water depth ranges from 2 - 3 . 5 m . occasionally ,
female eastern red - bellied turtles dig a nest cavity 10 cm wide by 10 cm deep in the sand in early june or july . this nest cavity is found in a well - insulated area 90 m from the water , and 1 m above pond level .
there are currently 20 ponds in plymouth county massachusetts , a region in southeastern massachusetts experiencing increasing land development , that are inhabited by pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ( 3 ) . the ponds are land - locked coastal plain ponds fed by groundwater , springs and connected by an underground aquifer ( 3 ) . as much as 50 % of the population inhabits federal pond , which is owned and utilized by federal furnace cranberry company ( 3 ) . plymouth county is being developed quickly and the cranberry company has been reviewing development opportunities which could endanger the turtle even more ( 3 ) . although southeastern massachusetts cranberry agriculture draws nearly 3 . 5 billion gallons of water per year from local surface waters , red - bellied turtles have a better chance of continuing their existence by depending on the same water as cranberry growers than sharing their ponds with residential development .
turtle taxonomy working group [ van dijk , p . p . , j . iverson , a . rhodin , h . shaffer , and r . bour ]
when listed as an endangered species , the taxon was called the
plymouth red - bellied turtle
and was considered a subspecies ( pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ) [ 1 ] . the subspecies has since been invalidated , but the 1994 federal recovery plan explains that as an ecologically and geographically distinct population , it still qualifies as an endangered species . the nearest individuals of the southern population are 250 miles away in southern new jersey . the northern population is also unique in only being found naturally in ponds . the southern population is often riverine . the taxon ' s status as an endangered species will be reviewed in 2006 in response to a delisting petition [ 2 , 5 ] .
browne , r . , a . haskell , c . griffin , j . ridgeway . 1996 . genetic variations among populations of the redbelly turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris ) .
[ 1 ] u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1994 . plymouth redbelly turtle ( pseudernys rubriventris ) recovery plan , second revision . u . s . fish and wildife service , hadley , massachusetts . 48 pp . [ 2 ] amaral , m . 2006 . personal communication with michael amaral , u . s . fish and wildlife service , concord , nh , february 7 , 2006 . [ 3 ] amaral , m . 2006 . released northern red - bellied cooters , 1985 - 2003 . spreadsheet provided by michael amaral , u . s . fish and wildlife service , concord , nh , february 7 , 2006 . [ 4 ] french , t . 2006 . personal communication with tom french , massachusetts natural heritage and endangered species program , westborough , ma , february 7 , 2006 , and february 8 , 2006 . [ 5 ] gordon , r . 1997 . petition to remove the ' plymouth redbelly turtle ' ( ' pseudemys rubriventris bangsi ' ) from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants . national wilderness institute , february 3 , 1997 .
hibernate in the mud at the bottom of rivers . red - bellied turtles are not territorial . they are shy and wary of humans and predators and swim rapidly and bury themselves in the mud when scared . numerous individuals frequently inhabit the same rocks or logs while sunbathing . however , aggression over basking spots between
there is a dispute over the correct genus of the eastern redbelly turtle . some choose to use pseudemys while others use chrysemys . oftentimes , chrysemys is used only for painted turtles .
predation by raccoons , skunks , and widemouth bass is also considered a serious threat to the turtle population . raccoons and skunks dig out nests and eat the eggs , while bass snatch turtle hatchlings from the water before the shells have a chance to harden . to counter this threat , researchers under the direction of the massachusetts natural heritage and endangered species program began locating turtle nests and fencing sites to exclude predators . at the time of fencing , several eggs are removed from each nest , then hatched and raised in a collaborative captive breeding program .
spans the mid - atlantic coastal waters of the usa from new jersey to north carolina . this includes areas east to the potomac river and west to w . virginia . there is a disjunctive population of eastern red - bellied turtles in massachusetts , as well as a small , introduced population in long island , new york .
lay eggs under 10 cm of sand . the young emerge as hatchlings after 73 to 80 days and quickly make their way to the nearest water source , where they will develop into adults . hatchlings are typically between 29 and 36 mm in plastron length . eastern red - bellied turtles reach sexual maturity after 5 to 9 years .
are found in brackish water at the mouths of rivers . they surround themselves with aquatic vegetation , rocks , and logs for basking in the sun . eastern red - bellied turtles become terrestrial for short periods of time while laying eggs in june or july . they show little evidence of migration and often occupy the same habitat year - round .
red - bellied turtles are omnivores that feed on snails , plants , worms , tadpoles , crayfish , and insect larvae . these turtles are endangered throughout massachusetts . their population had been reduced to 200 - 300 turtles by 1980s . by 2007 , there were estimated to be about 400 - 600 breeding age turtles across 20 ponds . reasons for endangerment are overhunting . skunks , raccoons , birds , and fish eat the turtle ' s eggs and hatchlings . their habitat is threatened by draining of the wetlands . another major issure to endangerment is loss of habitat by filling in ponds with houses .
hatchlings are held over the winter , during which time they develop at a rate five times faster than those remaining in the wild . by spring , these young turtles are able to resist predation and are released into the turtle ponds .
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi must cope with harsh winters that are not experienced by mid - atlantic populations of pseudemys rubriventris ( 3 ) . winter research utilizing scuba has observed plymouth red - bellied turtles sleeping exposed on the bottom of ponds as opposed to being burrowed in the mud . this occurs despite ponds being completely frozen ( 5 ) . pseudemys rubriventris bangsi has also been observed making small jaw movements to draw in water for buccopharyngeal gas exchange ( 3 , 5 ) . other observations included more movement under ice cover than previously thought . radio - telemetry showed movements of 7 . 6 m per week , although during some weeks they remained motionless ( 5 ) . these underwater movements increased to 36 m per week after ice melt ( 5 ) .
the term is used in the 1994 iucn red list of threatened animals to refer collectively to species categorized as endangered ( e ) , vulnerable ( v ) , rare ( r ) , indeterminate ( i ) , or insufficiently known ( k ) and in the 1996 iucn red list of threatened animals to refer collectively to species categorized as critically endangered ( cr ) , endangered ( en ) , or vulnerable ( vu ) .
the headstart program is at the core of the recovery plan for the plymouth red - bellied turtle . due to high predation , one of the main strategies in the recovery plan is to protect nests and take hatchlings from the wild . the hatchlings are raised in captivity in 84ºf water and fed a head of romaine lettuce per day until they grow to be much larger than their non - headstarted counterparts . this strategy allows turtles to reach a size large enough to avoid much of the predation that threatens them in the wild . studies have shown that carapace lengths of 66 - 95 mm and 296 mm increase survival rates to high levels ( 6 ) . sometimes the headstarted turtles are six times larger than they would be if they had been left in the wild as a hatchling ( 6 ) . the first headstarted turtles were taken in 1984 and released in 1985 . since then , 2725 turtles have been headstarted through this recovery effort ( 3 ) . headstarted turtles , along with having a higher survival rate , also reach sexual maturity sooner ( 3 ) .
produce one clutch of eggs yearly containing 8 to 22 eggs . hatching occurs in 73 to 80 days . the hatchlings emerge from august to october . if late nesting occurs , hatchlings do not emerge before the winter . eggs incubated on natural sand are larger and have a better chance of survival than eggs incubated in artificial settings . due to the loss of natural habitats , female red - bellied turtles sometimes lay eggs in homeowner ' s yards . females try to return to the same nesting sights every year .
4 . robert a . browne ; n . alison haskell ; curtice r . griffin ; jeffrey w . ridgeway genetic variation among populations of the redbelly turtle ( pseudemys rubriventris ) copeia , vol . 1996 , no . 1 . ( feb . 2 , 1996 ) , pp . 192 - 195 .
the primary management objective for this turtle is to restore and maintain self - sustaining populations . reclassification to threatened status could occur if the species increases to at least 15 self - sustaining populations with 600 breeding - age individuals . delisting will be considered when numbers increase to 1 , 000 breeding - age turtles in 20 or more self - sustaining populations ( in ponds , lakes and possibly rivers ) . in addition to the population targets , maintenance of sufficient habitat to allow long - term survival of the population and an understanding of the turtle ' s life history and habitat requirements sufficient for management purposes , will be required to meet the full recovery objective .
the main threats to the plymouth population are habitat loss , altered habitat , and high predation ( 3 ) . ponds that previously had sunny shores ideal for egg incubation now are surrounded by a closed canopy due to intentional suppression of forest fires that use to occur naturally due to native american fires and lightning ( 3 ) . cooler temperatures in the shade have resulted in loss of nesting habitat and an unequal sex ratio as described above ( 3 ) .
during the incubation period , and in the first few years of life , pseudemys rubriventris bangsi experiences very high predation . nest predation , which can be as high as 100 % for nests that are not protected at federal pond , is carried out by crows , red fox , skunks , raccoons and coyotes , while hatchlings are preyed on by largemouth bass ( micropterus salmoides ) , chain pickerel ( esox niger ) , snapping turtles , great blue heron and bull frogs ( rana catesbeiana ) ( 3 , 6 ) . analysis of the stomach contents of bull frogs provides evidence that they are one of the main predators of hatchlings ( 6 ) . the survival rate of hatchlings is thought to be very low . similar freshwater turtles , such as blanding’s turtle , may have a hatchling survival rate of only 1 % ( 3 ) . it is difficult to study the survival rate using the current shell notch identifying technique , because the notches are no longer discernable when the turtles are recaptured as adults ( 3 ) .
due to the loss of historic populations , increasing shoreline and between - pond development , and increased predation pressure , the northern red - bellied cooter was placed on the endangered species listed and granted critical habitat in 1980 [ 1 ] . twelve occupied ponds were known at the time . three additional populations , including federal pond , were discovered in subsequent years . federal pond was and is the largest population . an active
headstarting
program introduced the cooter to ten additional ponds and two rivers by 2005 [ 2 , 3 , 4 ] . all nests discovered each year are caged to protect the eggs and hatchlings from predators ( about 95 % of uncaged nests suffer predation ) [ 2 ] . when hatching is complete , 50 % of the hatchlings are released into the same pond and 50 % are moved to headstarting facilities which raise them to a size that is less vulnerable to predation . the headstarted turtles are reintroduced to the same or new sites . between 1985 and 2005 , the program released over 2 , 500 turtles [ 3 , 4 ] . headstarted turtles were first documented to breed in the wild in 2000 [ 5 ] .
this turtle is primarily aquatic , preferring small ponds but is occasionally found on land near the water . it is most active from late march to october . in the winter it rests on the pond bottom beneath the ice in an inactive state similar to hibernation , known as brumation . it feeds on aquatic vegetation , crayfish , and other small pond fauna . in late spring and early summer , the female selects a nesting site in sandy soil close to the pond . after scooping a hole , she deposits 10 - 17 eggs , which incubate between 73 and 80 days . hatchlings are only about 1 in ( 2 . 5 cm ) long . hatchlings may emerge from nests to enter ponds in late summer , or overwinter in the nest chamber and emerge the following spring . females reach sexual maturity in 8 - 15 years ; males may mature earlier .
- - natureserve explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50 , 000 plants , animals and ecological communtities of the u . s and canada . natureserve explorer provides in - depth information on rare and endangered species , but includes common plants and animals too . natureserve explorer is a product of natureserve in collaboration with the natural heritage network .
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disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
range depth 2 to 3 . 5 m 6 . 56 to 11 . 48 ft
have an orange plastron and a green carapace covered with light green markings . the skin is light green as well . a possible subspecies ,
of massachusetts , has a greater height ( by 2 . 4 times ) due to a more domed carapace .
has never been observed . scientists know mating does occur in shallow water in the fall or spring . with regards to a closely related species ,
, the male pursues the female and sniffs her tail after the female releases a pheromone . in the following mating ritual , he then swims above and in front of her in the water and rapidly strokes her face with his claws . if a female
accepts his advances , the male then swims behind the female , mounting her for copulation .
. they frequent the same rocks and logs while sunbathing and often sit on top of each other . regarding
, a closely related species , females communicate by the emission of pheromones and males by tactile contact and a mating dance .
. juveniles are herbivorous and adults are omnivorous . laboratory hatchlings can be fed brine shrimp
. lawn mowers frequently kill turtles resting in grass . housing developments around rivers and ponds result in loss of nesting sights .
include bullfrogs , skunks , raccoons , wading birds , crows , and mice . eastern redbelly turtles play an important role in the middle of the food chain . they also are responsible for controlling the population of hyacinth , an invasive plant .
is considered threatened by the lacey act . this makes it illegal to import , export , transport , sell , or buy any part of the animal , dead or alive . the environmental protection agency is responsible for maintaining water treatment plants that do not harm the turtles . main causes of endangerment include expanding housing developments and a loss of nesting sights , pollutants , pesticides , and predation on eggs and hatchlings . the u . s . fish and wildlife service enacted a plan in 1985 to protect existing populations , to prevent hunting of the turtles , to collect eggs to hatch in captivity , and to educate the local public on the turtles .
kelly clark ( author ) , university of michigan - ann arbor , phil myers ( editor ) , museum of zoology , university of michigan - ann arbor .
living in the nearctic biogeographic province , the northern part of the new world . this includes greenland , the canadian arctic islands , and all of the north american as far south as the highlands of central mexico .
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror - image halves . animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides , as well as anterior and posterior ends . synapomorphy of the bilateria .
an area where a freshwater river meets the ocean and tidal influences result in fluctuations in salinity .
having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment ; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature .
the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced , thus lowering the animal ' s energy requirements . the act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state , typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals .
the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female ; development of offspring occurs outside the mother ' s body .
many forms .
a species is polymorphic if its individuals can be divided into two or more easily recognized groups , based on structure , color , or other similar characteristics . the term only applies when the distinct groups can be found in the same area ; graded or clinal variation throughout the range of a species ( e . g . a north - to - south decrease in size ) is not polymorphism . polymorphic characteristics may be inherited because the differences have a genetic basis , or they may be the result of environmental influences . we do not consider sexual differences ( i . e . sexual dimorphism ) , seasonal changes ( e . g . change in fur color ) , or age - related changes to be polymorphic . polymorphism in a local population can be an adaptation to prevent density - dependent predation , where predators preferentially prey on the most common morph .
referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody ( usually , but not always , a river or stream ) .
one of the sexes ( usually males ) has special physical structures used in courting the other sex or fighting the same sex . for example : antlers , elongated tails , special spurs .
that region of the earth between 23 . 5 degrees north and 60 degrees north ( between the tropic of cancer and the arctic circle ) and between 23 . 5 degrees south and 60 degrees south ( between the tropic of capricorn and the antarctic circle ) .
a terrestrial biome . savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy . extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical africa and south america , and in australia .
a grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees , a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest . see also tropical savanna and grassland biome .
a terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes ( > 23 . 5° n or s latitude ) . vegetation is made up mostly of grasses , the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available . fire and grazing are important in the long - term maintenance of grasslands .
2004 .
pseudemys rubriventris
( on - line ) . natureserve explorer . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
1999 .
pseudemys concinna
( on - line image ) . accessed april 06 , 2003 at urltoken .
2003 .
pseudemys rubriventris study
( on - line ) . jug bay wetlands sanctuary . accessed march 19 , 2003 at urltoken .
to cite this page : clark , k . 2004 .
pseudemys rubriventris
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
pseudemys rubriventris bangsi has a life expectancy of 40 to 45 years and does not reach sexual maturity until 15 to 20 years in age ( 3 ) . females dig terrestrial nests near ponds and lay one to two clutches per year , although one is more typical ( 3 ) . the incubation period is 73 to 80 days and the temperature required is 25ºc ( 3 ) . sex determination of the offspring is dependent on temperature , with cooler temperatures producing more males ( 3 ) . due to closed forest canopies at nesting areas , an increasing percentage of nests are lacking the required sunlight needed to produce females . in boot pond , this has resulted in a reported ratio of 21 males to every eight females . this unequal sex ratio is limiting to the effective size of the population ( 3 ) .
the mid - atlantic populations of pseudemys rubriventris live in different habitats compared to their northern disjuncts . they inhabit rivers , creeks , interconnected pond habitats , and / or brackish water ( 3 ) . while pseudemys rubriventris bangsi have to travel in upland areas to migrate to another pond , the mid - atlantic population of pseudemys rubriventris can travel huge distances by water ( 3 , 4 ) . not only do they have different pressures in the winter , they also have different dispersal strategies and associated food webs ( 3 ) .
there is very little habitat protected for these turtles . crooked pond is protected in the massasoit national wildlife refuge , and east head pond is in the myles standish state forest , but a neighboring cranberry grower holds the water rights ( 3 ) . there is a nesting beach protected on island pond and gunner’s pond , but the entire pond is not protected ( 3 ) .
the recovery plan lists the criteria necessary for changing the esa status from endangered to threatened as having 600 breeding adults in 15 or more self - sustaining populations of 50 or more turtles . delisting the turtles would require 1000 breeders in 20 self - sustaining populations . the current population estimates suggest that there may be between 400 and 600 breeders in the current population in 20 ponds , but only 10 of these ponds contain more than 20 breeders , and very few are protected ponds . these populations , as you can see from table 1 , have received many turtles through the headstart program . it is not known how the population would respond if the headstart program was stopped . even if the population goals are met in the near future , the sustainability goal of the populations may not be met for some time . in order for the populations to be self - sustainable , a solution to the low survival of hatchlings in the wild is needed .
6 . size related survival of headstarted redbelly turtles ( pseudemys rubriventris ) in massachusetts alison haskell ; terry e . graham ; curtice r . griffin ; jay b . hestbeck journal of herpetology , vol . 30 , no . 4 . ( dec . , 1996 ) , pp . 524 - 527 .
this great blue heron was filmed and photographed on an après work canoe paddle at jacob’s pond in norwell , ma . the great blue heron has great size and stature at 4’ tall . i highly recommend this pond for anyone looking to see wildlife by canoe or kayak .
despite the heron being so large , it easily takes off from the water and doesn’t seem to care that it’s 6’ wide wingspan is pushing though tree branches . they wait motionless on their stick - like legs in the water or slowly stalk their prey before they ambush them . they swallow their prey whole , rather that be fish , frogs , or even rodents . you may find that they show up at your backyard koi pond so beware . .
there is no sexual dimorphism , meaning that the males and females look the same . their backs and wings are a bluish - grey . their neck is brownish - cream and has a scruffy appearance . their face is white . they’ve got two black stripes above their eyes , and the middle of their crown is white .
this bird can be found around freshwater or brackish water habitats all over new england and into atlantic canada . the great white heron in florida was thought to be a separate species , but it is now accepted that they are the same species with different coloration .
i hope that all of you can also add the great blue heron to your own species list . please visit urltoken and click on blue heron to add your own sightings to our range maps or tell us about them in our comment section . check our other pages on species from around new england and atlantic canada .
new england and atlantic canada is home to various beautiful oak tree species . with a little effort , one can learn to identify the difference among these by the leaf shapes .
while an active head start program has introduced turtles to several new ponds and the river site , and has significantly increased the number of turtles in other ponds , the turtles take years to reach breeding status . it is therefore premature to evaluate the ultimate success of this effort .
the potential for recovery is reasonable if nest predation can be prevented and if head starting of young is done on a larger scale than in the past . due to the limited range of this species , delisting may not be possible . reclassification may be possible by the year 2000 , if ongoing recovery efforts continue to be successful .
graham , t . e . 1984 .
pseudemys rubriventris predation .
herpetology review 15 : 19 - 20 .
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due to the difficulty of censusing the species , quantitative population trend data have not been gathered [ 2 ] . however , species experts are in agreement that the number of occupied sites and the number of individuals has increased in size since 1980 , primarily due to the headstarting program and to a lesser extent natural reproduction [ 2 , 4 ] . the 1994 federal recovery plan requires a total of at least 600 breeding - age turtles distributed among at least 15 self - sustaining populations for downlisting to be considered [ 1 ] . delisting will require at least 1 , 000 breeding - age turtles in 20 or more self - sustaining populations .