Living only on a small island in the Gulf of California, Montserrat, a so small territory that the whole species could disappear with a single adverse event on that insular scale, such as a fire or the arrival of an introduced predator. Like many species of mammals that evolve isolated on small islands, it has developed its own traits that differentiate it from its continental relatives of the same gender, after generations of complete genetic isolation from the rest of the mice of its group. It lives in the island's arid meadow vegetation, where it shelters between rocks and under dense vegetation to avoid both extreme heat and the few predators present in that insular ecosystem.
Small rodent, gray fur on the back and white on the belly, large eyes and well-developed ears.It differs from other species of Peromyscus of the Gulf of California by its exclusive distribution to the island of Montserrat, without overlap with any other continental or island population.
Small footprint, 1.3-1.8 cm, with 4 front fingers and 5 rear fingers. Small, lengthy feces, 3-5 mm, left scattered by paths between the island's dried shrub vegetation. Excavate dried shrubs under rocks or roots, with the semi-cultured entrance between dense vegetation, typical of the island's dried shrub where it lives.
Endemic of the island of Montserrat, in the Gulf of California, Mexico, without natural presence outside this island.
Omnivorous, he feeds on seeds, leaves and invertebrates from the arid mattress of the island where he lives.
Solitary and nightlife, with a campsite centered on the shelters between rocks and dense vegetation of the island where he lives.
Its restriction to a single very small island, along with the constant risk of introduction of predators such as cats or rats, place its populations in a situation of extreme vulnerability despite the absence of direct threats documented to date.
Risk of introduction of cats, rats or other predators on the island of Montserrat, and the extreme geographical restriction of the species to a very reduced island territory, vulnerable to any adverse event on time.
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