Morgan's gerbil mouse, also known as the western Patagonian laucha, is a South American species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is named for J. P. Morgan, one of the sponsors of the expedition that first identified the species.
Description
Morgan's gerbil mouse is a slender, mouse-like rodent with large ears and elongated hind feet. Adults measure from in total length, including a tail about long, and weigh from . Females are slightly larger than males. The fur is long and silky, and is a dull brownish-grey over the upper body, and pure white on the underside; a distinct line of yellowish fur runs along the animal's sides separating the brown from the white fur. The tail is hairy, and darker coloured above than below. Unlike most other species in the genus, the hind feet have a thick coat of fur on the soles. ==Distribution and habitat==
Morgan's gerbil mouse is primarily herbivorous, feeding on the seeds of shrubs such as Berberis, Acaena and Lycium, although they will also eat a small number of insects. The breeding season lasts from October to April in much of the range, but is shorter in more southerly, colder, climes. The litters of three to nine young reach sexual maturity at six to eight weeks of age. Individuals rarely live for more than nine months. ==References==