Angel Island mouse
Angel Island mouse | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Cricetidae |
Subfamily: | Neotominae |
Genus: | Peromyscus |
Species: | P. guardia
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Binomial name | |
Peromyscus guardia Townsend, 1912
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The Angel Island mouse (Peromyscus guardia), or La Guarda deermouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.[2]
Distribution
It is
The species is believed to be extirpated from the three smaller islands, and may be extinct on Ángel de la Guarda, as well. The species is threatened by predation by feral cats, and by competition from introduced rodents.
Description
The Angel Island mouse has pale grey-brown fur with white underparts and feet, and large, hairless ears. It is most readily distinguished from closely related species on the mainland by subtle characteristics of the skull, or through genetic or biochemical analysis. Adults range from 19 to 22 cm (7.5 to 8.7 in) in total length, including tails 9 to 12 cm (3.5 to 4.7 in) long. Females have four abdominal teats.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The Angel Island mouse is endemic to Ángel de la Guarda Island, a mountainous 359 sq mi (930 km2) island off the east coast of Baja California Sur, and to three much smaller islands in the same group. Within the islands, the species appears to be confined to sandy beaches, and perhaps to rockier areas nearby, and has not been found in the high mountainous terrain that forms most of their land area.[3]
Three subspecies are formally recognised, although two of these are now extinct:
- P. g. guardia - Ángel de la Guarda, Estanque
- † P. g. harbisoni - Isla Granito
- † P. g. mejiae - Mejia
Biology
The Angel Island mouse is believed to be descended from an isolated population of
Conservation status
As recently as the 1960s, the Angel Island mouse was reported to be abundant on at least three of the four islands it was known to inhabit.[7] However, no specimens have been found on the islands since 1991, despite a number of surveys. The main risks to the species come from feral cats, and from introduced house mice and black rats, which compete with the endemic species for resources.[1][3] The subspecies resident on the two northern islets are now listed as extinct,[8] while the entire population on the southern islet of Estanque was probably driven to extinction by a single cat, present on the island only between 1998 and 1999.[9]
The