Santa Cruz mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Cruz mouse |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Neotominae |
| Genus: | Peromyscus |
| Species: |
P. sejugis
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| Binomial name | |
| Peromyscus sejugis Burt, 1932
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The Santa Cruz mouse (Peromyscus sejugis) is a small rodent that belongs to the Cricetidae family, which includes many types of mice and hamsters. This special mouse lives only in Mexico. You can find it on just two tiny islands in the southern part of the Gulf of California. Sadly, wild cats on Santa Cruz Island are a big danger to these mice.
Contents
What Does the Santa Cruz Mouse Look Like?
The Santa Cruz mouse is a fairly large mouse compared to others in its group. It measures about 16 to 20 centimeters (6 to 8 inches) long from its nose to the tip of its tail. Its tail alone is about 7 to 9 centimeters (3 to 3.5 inches) long. On average, these mice weigh around 22 grams, which is about the same as a few quarters.
Mouse Fur and Color
The fur on the mouse's back and sides is a dull grayish color. Its face is a yellowish-brown. Sometimes, it even has a yellowish stripe along its sides. The fur on its belly is white. Its tail is darker on the top than on the bottom.
Comparing to Other Mice
The Santa Cruz mouse looks a lot like the North American deermouse. However, the Santa Cruz mouse is bigger. It also has a longer nose and its fur is not as bright.
Where Do Santa Cruz Mice Live?
These mice live only on Santa Cruz Island and a small island nearby called San Diego. Both islands are in the southwestern Gulf of California. They are about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) away from the mainland.
Santa Cruz Island Habitat
Santa Cruz Island is the larger of the two, covering about 14 square kilometers (5.4 square miles). It is a rocky and rough island. The main plants growing there include elephant trees, clustervines, and nettlespurge. Scientists have found these mice mostly at the bottom of the island's valleys and ravines, not on the hilltops.
San Diego Island Habitat
San Diego Island is much smaller, only about 1.3 square kilometers (0.5 square miles). It is mostly a single rocky hill with some plants and cacti. The Santa Cruz mouse is the only native mammal known to live on these islands.
 | Calvin Brent |
 | Walter T. Bailey |
 | Martha Cassell Thompson |
 | Alberta Jeannette Cassell |
