This Grasshopper Mouse Hunts Scorpions, Howls at Moon
In the middle of the Sonoran Desert, this mother grasshopper mouse tends to her pups. While tiny and adorable, don't be mistaken. This is not your common house mouse. From the day they are born, these mice are natural killers. Insects, lizards, scorpions, and even, other mice, are all on the menu. This mouse is distinguished from most other rodents in its reliance on a meat-based diet. It regularly takes on prey as large, or larger, than itself.
Making the grasshopper mouse even more of a stand out is its immunity to scorpion venom. Not only can it withstand the typically, deadly stings, its body has adapted to convert the toxins into a pain killer. Before it enjoys another fresh kill, the mouse proclaims its territory, by howling. The mouse throws its head back and lets out a high-pitched cry, into the night sky. Giving it the nickname of werewolf mouse.
Transcript
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[music playing]
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NARRATOR: In the middle
of the Sonoran Desert,
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this mother grasshopper
mouse tends to her pups.
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While tiny and adorable,
don't be mistaken.
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00:00:10,533 --> 00:00:13,667
This is not your
common house mouse.
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00:00:13,667 --> 00:00:18,800
From the day they are born,
these mice are natural killers.
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00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:22,767
Insects, lizards, scorpions,
and even, other mice,
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00:00:22,767 --> 00:00:25,500
are all on the menu.
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00:00:25,500 --> 00:00:28,266
This mouse is distinguished
from most other rodents
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00:00:28,266 --> 00:00:31,333
in its reliance on
a meat-based diet.
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00:00:31,333 --> 00:00:36,967
It regularly takes on prey as
large, or larger, than itself.
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00:00:36,967 --> 00:00:40,066
Making the grasshopper mouse
even more of a stand out
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00:00:40,066 --> 00:00:43,133
is its immunity
to scorpion venom.
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Not only can it withstand
the typically, deadly stings,
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its body has adapted to convert
the toxins into a pain killer.
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After a scorpion, a giant
centipede might seem easy.
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However, these
centipedes are venomous.
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A pocket mouse has already
fallen victim to its toxins.
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The grasshopper mouse
isn't intimidated.
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This time, the
trick up its sleeve
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isn't immunity, but agility.
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It uses its quick reflexes
to avoid the venom
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from the centipedes fangs.
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Before it enjoys
another fresh kill,
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the mouse proclaims its
territory, by howling.
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The mouse throws its
head back and lets out
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a high pitched cry,
into the night sky.
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Giving it the nickname
of werewolf mouse.
