Cactus Mouse

Peromyscus eremicus

Summary 6

The cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus) is a species of rodents in the family Cricetidae. They are one species of a closely related group of common mice often called deer mice. Cactus mice are small, between 18 and 40 g in weight. Females weigh slightly more than males and are significantly larger in body length, ear length, length of mandible and bullar width of skull. Cactus mice can be identified by having naked soles on their hind...

Description 7

Cactus Mice are found in habitats with sandy soil and scattered vegetation, from low deserts to rocky foothills. They typically live in burrows, but are also found on the surface in piles of debris, vegetation, or rock crevices. They are active at night, feeding on seeds, insects, and green vegetation, and can become torpid during the day. They may estivate (become dormant, with metabolic rate lowered) during hotter and drier months, so as to reduce water loss. In her lifetime, which is probably about a year, a female can bear three or four litters of up to four young.

Links:
Mammal Species of the World
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Sources and Credits

  1. (c) J. N. Stuart, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/21786539@N03/6218689150
  2. (c) Robby Deans, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Robby Deans
  3. (c) Jason Eckberg, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jason Eckberg
  4. (c) Jared, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jared
  5. National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Cactus_mouse_at_the_Nevada_Test_Site.jpg
  6. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peromyscus_eremicus
  7. (c) Smithsonian Institution, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/6625359

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