Arizona Cotton Rat
Sigmodon arizonae
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyCricetidae (Hamsters, Voles, Lemmings, and Allies)
- GenusSigmodon (Cotton Rats)
- SpeciesSigmodon arizonae (Arizona Cotton Rat)
About the Arizona Cotton Rat
The Arizona cotton rat or Colorado River cotton rat (Sigmodon arizonae) is a rat in the family Cricetidae. It is found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The Arizona cotton rat has a typical rat-like appearance, and is sufficiently similar to the hispid cotton rat that it was considered to be part of the same species until 1970, when genetic analysis confirmed its distinct nature. It has bristly brownish fur over most of its body, with whitish underparts and grey feet. The scaly tail is dark in color, with very sparse fur. Adults range from 9.8 to 14.2 inches (250 to 360 mm) in total length, including the 3.9 to 5.9 in (99 to 150 mm) long tail, and weigh anything from 2.9 to 10.6 ounces (82 to 301 g). Males are slightly larger than females, but the two sexes are otherwise similar in appearance.
Females have ten or twelve teats, suggesting a maximum litter size of around this number. Reproduction is thought to occur year-round. The Arizona cotton rat is found in southern and central Arizona, the extreme southwestern corner of New Mexico, and in western Mexico from Sonora to Nayarit. They live close to rivers, streams... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat
Sigmodon ochrognathus
White-throated Woodrat
Neotoma albigula
Cactus Mouse
Peromyscus eremicus
Rock Squirrel
Otospermophilus variegatus
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
Xerospermophilus tereticaudus
Harris' Antelope Squirrel
Ammospermophilus harrisii
Cliff Chipmunk
Tamias dorsalis
Desert Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus penicillatus
Merriam's Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys merriami
Abert's Squirrel
Sciurus aberti
Arizona Gray Squirrel
Sciurus arizonensis
Bailey's Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus baileyi
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Arizona Cotton Rat in Saguaro National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Arizona Cotton Rat sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 119 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Arizona Cotton Rat in Saguaro National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Arizona Cotton Rat in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.