California Mouse
Encyclopedia
The California Mouse is a species of rodent
in the family Cricetidae
. It is the only species in the Peromyscus californicus species group. It is found in north-western Mexico
and central to southern California
. It is largest Peromyscus
species in the United States
.
While most rodents are polygamous, the California Mouse pair bond
s, making it a model organism
for researchers studying the genetics and neurobiology of partner fidelity.
and feet are white
with both sexes defending the nest site. Males are also aggressive toward one another; their fighting techniques involve jumping, avoidance and a characteristic mewing cry.
The California Mouse pair bonds and the males help raise the young. A litter usually consists of only two pups, but a pair may produce as many as six litters in a year. Gestation ranges from 21 to 25 days. Weaning occurs when the offspring are 5 to 6 weeks of age.
The mouse's diet consists of shrub fruits, seeds, and flowers, such as of Rhus integrifolia
, Lotus scoparius
, and Salvia apiana. They will also consume grasses, forbs, fungi, and arthropods.
P. californicus is mostly active at night. The main predators of the California mouse are weasels and barn owls.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the family Cricetidae
Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, and New World rats and mice...
. It is the only species in the Peromyscus californicus species group. It is found in north-western Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and central to southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is largest Peromyscus
Peromyscus
The genus Peromyscus contains the animal species commonly referred to as deer mice. This is a genus of New World mouse only distantly related to the common house mouse and laboratory mouse, Mus musculus...
species in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
While most rodents are polygamous, the California Mouse pair bond
Pair bond
In biology, a pair bond is the strong affinity that develops in some species between the males and females in a pair, potentially leading to breeding. Pair-bonding is a term coined in the 1940s that is frequently used in sociobiology and evolutionary psychology circles...
s, making it a model organism
Model organism
A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. Model organisms are in vivo models and are widely used to...
for researchers studying the genetics and neurobiology of partner fidelity.
Description
The California mouse has very large ears, and a tail that is longer than the head and body combined. Including the tail, which is about 117 to 156 mm long, the mouse ranges in length from 220 to 285 mm. The coat is overall brown, mixed with black hairs. This dorsal colour shades to a creamy-white belly colour. The manusManus (zoology)
The manus is the zoological term for the distal portion of the fore limb of an animal. In tetrapods, it is the part of the pentadactyl limb that includes the metacarpals and digits . During evolution, it has taken many forms and served a variety of functions...
and feet are white
Natural history
The California mouse is semi-arboreal, but tends to nest on the ground, under debris such as fallen logs. Nests are insulated with coarse dry grasses, weeds and sticks, and fine grass is used as bedding in the center chamber. P. californicus is more strongly territorial than P. maniculatusPeromyscus maniculatus
Peromyscus maniculatus is a rodent native to North America. It is most commonly called the Deer Mouse, although that name is common to most species of Peromyscus and is fairly widespread across the continent, with the major exception being the southeast United States and the far north.Like other...
with both sexes defending the nest site. Males are also aggressive toward one another; their fighting techniques involve jumping, avoidance and a characteristic mewing cry.
The California Mouse pair bonds and the males help raise the young. A litter usually consists of only two pups, but a pair may produce as many as six litters in a year. Gestation ranges from 21 to 25 days. Weaning occurs when the offspring are 5 to 6 weeks of age.
The mouse's diet consists of shrub fruits, seeds, and flowers, such as of Rhus integrifolia
Rhus integrifolia
Rhus integrifolia, also known as Lemonade Berry, Lemonadeberry, or Lemonade Sumac is a shrub to small tree. It is native to the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges and the South Coast regions of Southern California...
, Lotus scoparius
Lotus scoparius
Lotus scoparius is a perennial subshrub in the family Fabaceae . The plant is a pioneer species found in dry areas of California, Arizona, and Mexico...
, and Salvia apiana. They will also consume grasses, forbs, fungi, and arthropods.
P. californicus is mostly active at night. The main predators of the California mouse are weasels and barn owls.