Southern Grasshopper Mice (Onychomys torridus) are medium-sized mice with medium-sized ears, reddish fur, a white belly, and a short tail. The tip of the tail is white. The head and body length is about 3 inches, and the tail length is about 2 inches. Grasshopper Mice are voracious predators.

This species lives at lower elevations in the deserts around Las Vegas. They occur in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) Life Zones. Look for them anywhere -- but don't expect to see one because they are secretive and only come out a night. They bark, so you might hear them while camping in the desert.

Around Las Vegas area, this is the only species of grasshopper mouse.