Tres Marías Island mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tres Marias island mouse |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Peromyscus
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| Species: |
madrensis
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The Tres Marías island mouse or Tres Marías deer mouse (Peromyscus madrensis) is a type of rodent in the Cricetidae family, which includes mice and hamsters. This special mouse is found only on the Islas Marías, a group of islands off the west coast of Mexico. These islands are part of the state of Nayarit. When scientists last checked, the mouse was common on María Cleofás Island. However, it was rare or missing on the other islands, which have been changed more by human activity.
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What Does the Tres Marías Island Mouse Look Like?
The Tres Marías island mouse is about the size of a small rat. Its head and body are usually between 21 and 25 centimeters long. Its tail adds another 10 to 13 centimeters to its length.
Fur and Features
These mice have soft, pale tan fur on their backs. Their undersides, lips, and feet are white. You might notice a faint, darker stripe of fur along their back, especially towards their rear. They also have dark spots on their ankles. Their tails don't have much hair and are darker on the top side. Female mice have six teats, which are used for feeding their babies. Compared to other mice in the Peromyscus group, the Tres Marías island mouse is bigger. It also has a longer tail and smaller ears.
Where Do Tres Marías Island Mice Live?
The Tres Marías island mouse can live in all kinds of places on the islands. However, it prefers areas with undisturbed tropical deciduous forest. These are forests where trees lose their leaves during the dry season. The mice are especially common in the higher, inner parts of the islands.
Their Homes and Threats
These mice like to live in safe spots. They often make their homes under logs or rocks. When these mice were first discovered in 1898, they were found all over the islands. But a study in 1991 showed that their living areas had shrunk a lot. This is mainly because new animals were brought to the islands. These new animals include black rats, deer, and goats. These introduced species compete with the mice for food or change their habitat.
Family Tree of the Tres Marías Island Mouse
The Tres Marías island mouse is closely related to the Nayarit mouse. The Nayarit mouse lives on the nearby mainland. Scientists believe these two types of mice separated and became different species during the Pleistocene epoch. This was a long time ago, during the Ice Age. It's not clear how the mice first got to the islands. They might have floated there on natural rafts of plants. Or, the islands might have once been connected to the mainland.
Images for kids
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A Tres Marías island mouse in its natural habitat.
