Slevins's mouse

The Catalina deer mouse ( Peromyscus slevini ) is a type of Weißfußmäuse that occurs exclusively on the Mexican island of Santa Catalina.

Description

The Catalina deer mouse is compared to other deer mice relatively large with a great body and a medium length tail. Exemplary measurements gave a head for a male body length of 210 mm and a tail length of 97 mm, for a female head, a body length of 214 mm and a tail length of 109 mm. The Hinterfußlänge was 25 and 26 mm and the length of each of the ears of both 19 mm. The top is light cinnamon with single gray hair on the back, the belly is white with cinnamon-colored individual hairs. The front legs are also cinnamon and feet are cream-white, the tail is on the upper side slightly darker than the back and sides also white.

Characteristic features are the development of the molar tooth M2 and three pairs of teats in the females. Compared to Peromyscus californicus Festlandart the Catalina deer mouse is slightly larger and brighter at the same time. The skull is also slightly narrower.

Distribution and habitat

The Catalina deer mouse is endemic to the Pacific island of Santa Catalina in the Gulf of California. This island is located 23 km east of the mainland and has an area of ​​40 km2

Overall, for the island of 96 plant species known form is dominated by Bursera hindsiana, Bursera microphylla, Colubrina viridis, Encelia farinose, Esenbeckia flava, Euphorbia polycarpa and Ferocactus diguetii and some more. As Hauptprädator the Santa Catalina rattlesnake (Crotalus catalinensis ) is to assume that is common on the island.

Taxonomy

The Catalina deer mouse was described by Joseph Mailliard (1857-1945) in 1924 as a new species of deer mice. The scientific name honors the American zoologist Joseph Richard Slevin ( 1881-1957 ).

Status

In the Red List of endangered species by the IUCN, the Catalina Deer Mouse is classified as critically endangered or threatened with extinction. This assessment is primarily based on the very limited area of ​​distribution as well as the decreasing number of viable reproductive individuals on the island. 1931, the number of mice on Santa Catalina was by WH Burt classified as high, 1993, no single individual will be found during 1995 15 and 1998 four individuals could be trapped by cave-in.

As the main threat to the Catalina deer mouse probably imported from the mainland to the island of California by fishermen Peromyscus fraterculus is considered, which is in direct competition with native species and displaces them.