Found in a single high-altitude valley in central Mexico near the city of Perote, inhabiting mountain grassland and scrub that has undergone almost complete agricultural transformation in recent decades. It has one of the smallest geographical ranges of any Mexican mouse, and recent studies suggest its population may have contracted to a handful of localities within an already restricted valley. Its name refers directly to the city of Perote in Veracruz state, near where the species was first documented in the early 20th century. It is a clear example of how a rodent with a naturally restricted distribution can be driven to the brink of extinction within a few decades when its entire habitat is converted to arable land.
A small rodent with greyish-brown fur on the upperparts and white underparts, large eyes and well-developed ears, typical of other mice in its genus. It is easily confused with other Peromyscus species from central Mexico, which require genetic or cranial analysis for reliable identification; its exclusive presence in the Perote Valley is the most useful reference for field identification.
Small tracks and signs: track 1.3-1.8 cm long, with 4 fore toes and 5 hind toes. Droppings small and elongated, 3-5 mm long, left scattered along surface runways through grassland and scrub. It digs shallow burrows under stones or roots with the entrance partially concealed by vegetation, though recent field records of these tracks and signs are scarce given the current rarity of the species.
Mountain grassland and scrub in a high valley, generally above 2400 m altitude. Known from a very small area near the city of Perote in Veracruz state, east-central Mexico.
Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, grass and invertebrates in its native mountain grassland and scrub habitat.
Solitary and probably nocturnal, with a home range centered on the remaining patches of grassland and scrub within its restricted valley.
Its already minute home range has suffered almost total conversion to agriculture, with very few confirmed recent records, pointing to an extremely small and continuously declining population.
Almost total conversion of native mountain grassland and scrub to cropland in the Perote Valley, combined with extreme geographic restriction to an already tiny area.
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