Cactus deermouse
The Cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus) is a species of rodent native to western North America. It is a closely related group of New World mice often called "deermice".
Cactus mice have large eyes and ears, a pointed snout, and a long monocolor tail. 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 feet and almost naked flesh-colored tails, which are usually the same length or longer than the animals' body length. Their ears are nearly hairless, large, and membranous. Their fur is long and soft; coloration varies between subspecies and between different populations. The color of fur varies from ochre to cinnamon, with white ventral areas, and the sides and top of the head slightly grayish. Females tend to be slightly paler in color than males, while juveniles appear more gray than their parents.
Cactus mice are found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, as well as islands off the coast of the Baja California peninsula and in the Gulf of Mexico. They live in dry desert habitats, steppe, and mountain foothills.
Cactus mice are solitary rodents. They are nocturnal but may even appear at midday. They may be less active during the full moon. They have been described as "shy and excitable, and seldom bite when handled". They vocalize a shrill, high-pitched squeak when frightened. They may enter torpor when deprived of food in the winter, and food and/or water in the summer. Below 15 °C (59 °F), they enter torpor more slowly.
Cactus mice are omnivores. They eat seeds, mesquite beans, hackberry nutlets, insects, and green vegetation. In winter, they rely more on insects; on seeds and flowers in the spring; and seeds, leafy greens, and insects in the summer.
The mating habits of Cactus mice are currently not well studied, but like other Peromyscus species, they are thought to be polygynandrous (promiscuous). They mate year-round, but more so during warmer months. After the gestation period of 20 to 25 days, the female gives birth to 1-4 pups; they may have up to 4 litters per year. Young females start to breed after about 2 months of age.
There are no major threats to Cactus mice at present.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Cactus mouse total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are stable.
Cactus mice play an important role in their ecosystem as seed dispercers and as prey items for other animals.
