Eva's desert mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eva's desert mouse |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Peromyscus
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| Species: |
eva
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| Synonyms | |
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Peromyscus eremicus carmeni Townsend, 1912 |
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The Eva's desert mouse (Peromyscus eva) is a small rodent. It belongs to a group of mice called Peromyscus. This mouse is part of the Cricetidae family, which includes many types of hamsters and voles. You can only find Eva's desert mouse in the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.
What It Looks Like
Eva's desert mouse is about 19 cm (7.5 in) long from its head to its rump. Its tail adds another 10 cm (3.9 in) to its length. These mice are quite light, weighing between 13 and 20 grams (0.46 and 0.71 oz).
Their fur is a pretty russet or buff color over most of their body. They have lighter, pale grey marks on their nose, cheeks, and around their eyes. Their ears are light brown and don't have much hair. The fur on their belly is a creamy white color.
It can be tricky to tell Eva's desert mouse apart from the cactus mouse. Both live in the same area. However, Eva's desert mouse is usually darker and has a longer tail. Scientists can also tell them apart by looking at a specific bone called the baculum.
We don't know a lot about how these mice live. But they are often found near plants that store water, like cacti. It seems they have their babies between February and July.
Where It Lives
Eva's desert mouse lives only in the southern part of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. In this area, they like to live in scrubland. This is a type of dry land with many bushes and shrubs. They live in places below 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in height.
Their homes are often filled with plants like cholla, Jatropha, and organ-pipe cactus. You might also find them in farm areas.
Scientists have found two different types, or subspecies, of Eva's desert mouse:
- Peromyscus eva eva - This type lives on the main part of Baja California Sur.
- Peromyscus eva carmeni - This type lives on Carmen Island. Carmen Island is part of the Bahía de Loreto National Park.
See also
In Spanish: Peromyscus eva para niños
