Santa Cruz mouse
| Santa Cruz mouse | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Neotominae |
| Genus: | Peromyscus |
| Species: | P. sejugis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Peromyscus sejugis Burt, 1932
| |
The Santa Cruz mouse (Peromyscus sejugis) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found only on two small islands in the southern Gulf of California. Feral cats on Santa Cruz Island are a threat.[1]
Description
The Santa Cruz mouse is a relatively large member of its
Distribution and habitat
The mouse is found only on Santa Cruz Island and the neighboring islet of San Diego, both of which lie in the south-western Gulf of California, about 17 km (11 mi) from the mainland. The larger island, with an area of 14 km2 (5.4 sq mi), is rocky and rugged, with the dominant vegetation including elephant trees, clustervines, and nettlespurge. Mice have been collected from the bottoms of ravines on the island, rather than on the hilltops. San Diego Island, with an area of just 1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi), is little more than a single rocky mound with some ground vegetation and cacti. Santa Cruz mice are the only native mammals known to live on the islands.[2]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ S2CID 198969104. Archived from the original(PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2015.