Silky pocket mice have soft fur ranging from yellowish to gray on the upperparts and white to buff on the underparts soles of the hind feet are furry, but in all other pocket mice the soles are hairless. The nine species of silky pocket mice (genus Perognathus) are very small, weighing from 5 to 30 grams (0.2 to 1.1 ounces) and having a body length of 6 to 9 cm (2.4 to 3.5 inches) and hairy tails 5 to 10 cm long. Others remain in burrows during winter or on hot days in summer they may become torpid but do not hibernate. Most are active all year, even some of those living at northern latitudes. They eat seeds, succulent plant parts, and nuts, carrying food (mainly seeds) in their cheek pouches to hoard in burrows. Pocket mice are nocturnal and usually solitary. Like “true” mice and rats (family Muridae), pocket mice travel on all four limbs along the ground, as opposed to hopping like their relative, the kangaroo mouse. The pouches are used for storing food, particularly seeds, as the animal forages. Pocket mouse, any of 36 species of American rodents having fur-lined external cheek pouches that open alongside the mouth.
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