A medium-sized rodent that builds elaborate stick nests.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The Southern Plains woodrat is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in northwest Mexico and in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas in the United States. The subspecies Neotoma micropus leucophaea: White Sands woodrat, is white in coloration and found only at White Sands National Park in New Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia — Southern Plains woodrat Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium-large rodent with brown back; pale belly; bushy tail.
Similar species. Other Neotoma species. Norway Rat (introduced; different shape).
Voice. Squeaks; foot-thumps.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Plant materials, nuts, seeds, occasional insects and small vertebrates.
Behavior. Builds elaborate stick "lodges" in rocky habitats. Notorious "pack rat" — collects shiny objects.
§ Range
Southern US
§ Habitat
Brushy southern habitats
§ Threats
Habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the wood rat (southern) is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support southern brush habitat conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Southern Plains woodrat
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Neotoma micropus
- IUCN Red List · taxon 14534
- iNaturalist · taxon 46153
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Neotoma micropus
§ Sources cited
- American Society of Mammalogists
- IUCN Red List 2016
