Slevin's mouse (Peromyscus slevini), also known as the Catalina deer mouse,[a] is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.[2] It is endemic to Isla Santa Catalina off the east coast of Baja California Sur, an island with an area of about 40 km2 (15 sq mi), and it is the only native mammal on the island.[3] It is named for Joseph Slevin, a curator at the California Academy of Sciences.[4]

Slevin's mouse
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Peromyscus
Species:
P. slevini
Binomial name
Peromyscus slevini
Mailliard, 1924

Slevin's mouse is a large-bodied mouse, measuring about 21 cm (8.3 in) in total length, of which 10 centimetres (3.9 in) are the tail. They have pale cinnamon fur, mixed with dusky hairs, over the body, head, and flanks, with near-white underparts. They appear very similar to the related California mouse, but are paler in color and slightly larger. However, it may be most closely related to the North American deer mouse.[4]

The species is threatened by competition with the introduced Northern Baja deer mouse,[1] which was probably introduced by local fishermen.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Not to be confused with Peromyscus maniculatus catalinae, an endemic deermouse subspecies on Santa Catalina Island, California
  1. ^ a b Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. (2019). "Peromyscus slevini". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T16690A143643850. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T16690A143643850.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ Musser, G. G.; Carleton, M. D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1077. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Ramírez R., Jesús (2014). "Catalina deermouse". In Gerardo Ceballos (ed.). Mammals of Mexico. JHU Press. pp. 396–397. ISBN 978-1-4214-0843-9.
  4. ^ a b c Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. & Cortés-Calva , P. (2002). "Peromyscus slevini". Mammalian Species (705): 1–2. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2002)705<0001:PS>2.0.CO;2. S2CID 198969179.