. Biology of the Heteromyidae. Heteromyidae. ONTOGENY 483 120 100 Dipodomys deserti CO E O. 100 Days Fig. 2.—Growth curves for four species of heteromyid rodents. Average values for several litters are plotted. Data for Z). deserti from Butterworth (1961); H. desmarestianus, Fleming (1977); Dipodo- mys nitratoides, Eisenberg (1963); and P. parvus, Eisenberg, unpublished. proximately one month of age. In this case the relative growth of the body parts deter- mines the form of locomotion that the young animal can display. Similar results were noted in the growth studies by Lackey (1967) with D.
. Biology of the Heteromyidae. Heteromyidae. ONTOGENY 483 120 100 Dipodomys deserti CO E O. 100 Days Fig. 2.—Growth curves for four species of heteromyid rodents. Average values for several litters are plotted. Data for Z). deserti from Butterworth (1961); H. desmarestianus, Fleming (1977); Dipodo- mys nitratoides, Eisenberg (1963); and P. parvus, Eisenberg, unpublished. proximately one month of age. In this case the relative growth of the body parts deter- mines the form of locomotion that the young animal can display. Similar results were noted in the growth studies by Lackey (1967) with D. stephensi and Tappe (1941) with D. heer- mani. Growth curves for selected species of heteromyids are portrayed in Figure 2. Physical Development and Molts At birth the neonate has several sets of tactile hairs which may be important in ori- entation to litter mates and the mother. The eyes and auditory meatus are closed. In gen- eral the meatus opens before the eyes (Table 1). Since lactation requires that young seek out and find the nipple I assume that tactile, olfactory, and gustatory cues may be in- volved. The young respond to temperature changes since cooling causes a repetitive vo- calization (to be discussed below). The in- cisors do not erupt until several days after birth. The lower incisors appear first (see Table 1). At birth the pouches are repre- sented by small grooves on either side of the mouth. They gradually deepen but do not become conspicuous until after the sec- ond week. In all species during the first week of life the tail is often coiled and exhibits some tendency to coil if stroked with a probe (Eisenberg, 1963). The young are bom naked except for the tactile hairs. The skin is usually a light pink that darkens dorsally as the dorsal pelage begins to appear. The venter becomes haired after the dorsum and the first coat is shed shortly after the body is covered. As the dorsal hairs grow, the final effect is lighter and grayer than the first appearance
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