A small mouse specialized for pinyon-juniper habitats.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The pinyon mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is a species of the genus Peromyscus, a closely related group of New World mice often called "deermice". It is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California in Mexico. These medium-sized mice are often distinguished by their relatively large ears. The range of this species extends from southern Oregon and Wyoming in the north, and extends south to roughly the U.S.-Mexico border, with a disjunct population known as the Palo Duro mouse that occupies an area in the vicinity of Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle.[3] This isolated population is a glacial relict: during the last glacial period, Rocky Mountain juniper grew in a continuous belt from the mountains of New Mexico across the caprock escarpment to the Texas Panhandle, allowing the species to occupy the region. As the climate warmed approximately 10,000 years ago, the junipers retreated westward, leaving a gap of roughly 120 kilometers of open grassland that isolated the Palo Duro population from the main range.Schmidly, David J. (1973). "Geographic variation and systematics of Peromyscus truei". Journal of Mammalogy. 54 (1): 1–10.
Source: Wikipedia — Pinyon mouse Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Small brown mouse with white belly; large ears; long tail.
Similar species. Other Peromyscus species (subtle differences).
Voice. Squeaks.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Pinyon pine seeds, other nuts, insects.
Behavior. Common mouse of pinyon-juniper woodlands.
§ Range
Western US
§ Habitat
Pinyon-juniper habitats
§ Threats
Pinyon-juniper loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the pinyon mouse is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support southwestern habitat conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Pinyon mouse
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Peromyscus truei
- IUCN Red List · taxon 42606
- iNaturalist · taxon 42953
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Peromyscus truei
§ Sources cited
- American Society of Mammalogists
- IUCN Red List 2016
