A federally endangered mouse endemic to San Francisco Bay salt marshes.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The salt-marsh harvest mouse, also known as the red-bellied harvest mouse, is an endangered rodent endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area salt marshes in California.
Source: Wikipedia — Salt marsh harvest mouse Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Tiny mouse with brown back; white belly; large ears; long tail.
Similar species. Other Reithrodontomys species.
Voice. Squeaks.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Salt marsh plants, pickleweed seeds.
Behavior. Federally endangered. Endemic to San Francisco Bay salt marshes. Among the few US mammals adapted to saltwater habitats.
§ Range
San Francisco Bay area
§ Habitat
Salt marshes only
§ Threats
Salt marsh loss, sea-level rise.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the salt marsh harvest mouse is currently classified as Endangered.
§ What helps
Support San Francisco Bay salt marsh conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Salt marsh harvest mouse
- www.fws.gov — authoritative profile of Reithrodontomys raviventris
- IUCN Red List · taxon 19407
- iNaturalist · taxon 42953
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Reithrodontomys raviventris
§ Sources cited
- USFWS Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse Recovery
- IUCN Red List 2016
