247.

California Deermouse

Peromyscus californicus

French: Péromyscus de Californie / German: Kalifornien-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de California

Other common names: California Mouse

Taxonomy. Mus californicus Gambel, 1848, Monterey, Monterey County, California, USA .

Peromyscus californicus is in the californicus species group. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P. ¢c. californicus Gambel, 1848 — restricted to the type locality and surrounding areas in CW California, USA.

P c. benitoensis Grinnell & Orr, 1934 — narrow band along the coastal region of CW California, USA.

P.c.insignisRhoads,1895—SWCalifornia,USA,andNWBajaCalifornia,Mexico. P.c.mariposaeGrinnell&Orr,1934—restrictedtoCCalifornia,USA.

P. c. parasiticus Baird, 1858 — restricted to the type locality and surrounding areas in CW California, USA.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 103-129 mm, tail 117-156 mm, ear 20-26 mm, hindfoot 24-31 mm; weight 33-55 g. The California Deermouse is the largest species of Peromyscus in the USA. Dorsal pelage is long, lax, and russet, mixed with dark brown and some ocherous along sides. Venteris pale to whitish; buffy pectoral spot is present in some individuals. Feet are white. Tail is slightly bicolored, possesses scaly annulations, and is about as long as head-body length. Skull is large, and braincase is inflated. No accessory cusps occur on M'. Baculum is vase-shaped; it is wide at base and narrows near middle.

Habitat. Mediterranean-type habitats of chaparral, coastal scrubland, and dry pine-oak forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.1800 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the California Deermouse consists of fruits, flowers, and seeds of a wide variety of plants, such as Rhus integrifolia (Anacardiaceae), Lotus scoparius ( Fabaceae), and Salvia apiana ( Lamiaceae). Other food items include fungi, acorns, and arthropods. Water is obtained from vegetation and dew.

Breeding. Timing of reproduction may be seasonal (year-round in some cases), with majority of mating taking place in March—September. Most young are born in April-October. Gestation last 21-25 days. Females often have 3—4 litters/year, under natural conditions, and six or more have been recorded in captivity. Litters have 2—4 young. Females are polyestrous and, unlike other species of Peromyscus, do not exhibit postpartum estrus symptoms.

Activity patterns. The California Deermouse is mainly nocturnal with peak activityjust before dawn. It is semi-arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. California Deermice live in malefemale pairs even during pregnancy and lactation. Home ranges have been estimated at 0-15 ha.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Brylski & Harris (1990), Drickamer & Vestal (1973), Hall (1981), Luévano & Mellink (2014d), Mc-Cabe & Blanchard (1950), Merritt (1978), Svihla (1932).