What is the name of a desert mouse? - briefly
The desert mouse is commonly called the cactus mouse, with the scientific designation Peromyscus eremicus. It inhabits arid regions of North America.
What is the name of a desert mouse? - in detail
The desert‑dwelling rodent commonly referred to as the desert mouse is the species «Peromyscus eremicus». It belongs to the family Cricetidae, subfamily Neotominae.
Its distribution extends across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, occupying arid scrubland, rocky outcrops, and sandy dunes. The animal exhibits a pale sandy‑gray dorsal coat that provides camouflage against the desert substrate, while the ventral side is lighter.
Key biological characteristics include:
- Size: head‑body length 9–12 cm; tail length roughly equal to body length; weight 12–20 g.
- Diet: omnivorous, consuming seeds, insects, and plant material; opportunistic foraging during cooler night hours.
- Reproduction: multiple litters per year; average litter size 3–5 pups; gestation period about 23 days.
- Behavior: nocturnal; constructs shallow burrows for shelter; displays high water‑conservation efficiency, obtaining moisture primarily from food.
Conservation status is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting a stable population across its range. Threats include habitat alteration due to urban expansion and agricultural development, though the species demonstrates adaptability to fragmented environments.
Research on «Peromyscus eremicus» contributes to understanding physiological adaptations to extreme heat and limited water availability, offering insights relevant to desert ecology and comparative mammalian biology.