Pemberton's deer mouse

Pemberton's deer mouse
Conservation status
Extinct  (1931) (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Superfamily:	Muroidea
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Neotominae
Genus:	Peromyscus
Species:	P. pembertoni
Binomial name
Peromyscus pembertoni Burt, 1932

Pemberton's deer mouse (Peromyscus pembertoni) lived on San Pedro Nolasco Island (27.96749°N 111.37845°W / 27.96749; -111.37845) in the Gulf of California. The last 12 specimens were collected on 26 December 1931.

Etymology

The generic name comes from the Greek pero = "boots", mys meaning "mouse", hence the "mouse with boots", referring to the white feet.

General information

Peromyscus species, also known as deer mice, are common North American mammals. They tend to occur in range from Alaska to Central America in many different habitats. Because they are so abundant in nature, these mice constitute a large component of the nearctic ecosystems. These mice have also been of very great importance to the scientific research, both the wild type and genetic variants have been used for laboratory researches. They are not closely related to the house mouse and the rats.

Pemberton's deer mouse is a very cold-tolerant species; they live and survive in temperatures between 22 and 25°C. They are usually sexually mature by 55 days of age. Gestation is 23 days, except in lactating, females when it is delayed by four to six days to 28 or 30 days. P. pembertoni breeds in mated pairs.

Habitat

This species is poorly known. The only island that supported two different species of Peromyscus - P. pembertoni and P. boylii - was San Pedro Nolasco. Besides these two species, no other mammals occurred on the island. They were found or collected on a steep hill covered with grass on the eastern side of the island. The dominant plants found there were tree torote, pitayita, liga, Adam's tree, leather plant, fishhook cactus, malva rosa, chain fruit cholla, cardon, slipper plant, jojoba, and organpipe cactus.

Physical description

P. pembertoni is a medium-sized deer mouse. No significant sexual dimorphism is evident. The tail is usually longer than the head, and the body is bicolored. It is well-haired, and tufted at the end. The hind feet are small and similar in length to the ear, but sometimes longer. The skull is medium-sized, and auditory bullae are not greatly inflated. The upper parts of the pelage are medium brown; the sides are lighter brown with a broad orange lateral line extending from the cheek to thehindquarters; the under parts are whitish, the ankles dusky gray, and the feet whitish below ankle.

Reproduction

The social behavior of P. pembertoni has not been very well studied or investigated. Breeding occurs throughout most of the year, although the majority of young are born in spring and early summer. Breeding may cease during winter months.

Communication and perception

Like other Peromyscus species, they have keen eyesight and vision, and use chemical cues extensively in communication.

Predation

P. pembertoni escapes predation through its nocturnal and secretive habits. It is an important prey item for many predatory mammals, such as snakes, foxes, owls, and hawks.

Lifespan

The longevity of P. pembertoni is typically short, with few living more than one year under natural conditions.

External source

• Flannery, Tim and Schouten, Peter (2001). A Gap in Nature: Discovering the World's Extinct Animals. Atlantic Monthly Press, New York. ISBN 0-87113-797-6.