259.

Santa Cruz Deermouse

Peromyscus sejugis

French: Péromyscus de Santa Cruz / German: Santa-Cruz-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de Santa Cruz

Other common names: Santa Cruz Island Mouse, Santa Cruz Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus sejugis Burt, 1932, “Santa Cruz Island (latitude 25° 17° N., longitude 110° 43° W.), Gulf of California, Lower [= Baja] California, Mexico.”

Peromyscus sejugis is in the maniculatus species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Santa Cruz I and nearby San Diego I in Gulf of California, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 95-103 mm, tail 66-94 mm, ear 17-22 mm, hindfoot 20-25 mm; weight 14-25 g. The Santa Cruz Deermouse is small, with grayish dorsum, washed with hazelnut brown, giving dull or grayish opaque color. Yellowish lateral line is present. Venter is white. Head is yellow-brown, and ears are distinctly dusky or brown. Tail is bicolored (blackish above and white below) and is characterized by narrow dorsalstripe c.1-5 mm wide. It is similar to the North American Deermouse (PF. maniculatus) but larger in bodysize, presumably because of island colonization effects.

Habitat. Primarily xeric scrubland with cactus, cholla, and brush species from sea level to elevations of ¢.100 m. The Santa Cruz Deermouse has been captured in ravines and small canyons along coastal areas.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Four pregnant Santa Cruz Deermice were captured in August.

Activity patterns. The Santa Cruz Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castafieda (2001), Burt (1932), Hall (1981), Lawlor (1982b, 1983), Musser & Carleton (2005), Ramirez (2014a).