Reithrodontymys raviventris - Salt marsh harvest mouse

Introduction

Salt marsh harvest mouse is a small endanger rodent about 2.75-3.0 Inches or 69-75 mm long. Its tail is usually longer than its body, and the species is in danger of dying out. Therefore, various measures are being derived to stop the ailment. This research analyzes and explores the concept of evaluation and inhabitant of rodents and salt marsh harvest mouse, in a holistic form.

The main focus of this research is on the attitudes and living behavior of these rodents and its relation with overall atmosphere of their dwelling. Further this research analyzes the facts and history about what type of food, shelter, distribution of population involves within their breed. Finally, the research will describe the various facts of the decline in number of species and what is being done by the new sciences in order to implore the status of these rodents.

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Filumena: Chordata

Type: Mammalia

Ordering: Rodentia

Family:Cricetidae

Subfamily:Neotominae

Genus:Reithrodontomys

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse is also regarded as Reithrodontymys raviventris as a biological name. It can be defined as the cute and harmless mouse, which lives in the farms and feeds on the Leaves, seeds and stems of plants. It is a tiny, flimsy mouse gets easily hurts by slight injury. It is typically found in salt marshes and along coastlines like in southern California and Arizona, also in some places of Contra Costa, Soloano, Napa, and Sonoma.

Physical characteristics

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse is a dark brown mouse with a dark stripe extending vertically on its posterior and pinky or tawny on its ventral sides. They typically have blonde hairs on the anterior base of the ears. The ears on the outside are dark in colour. The tail too is the colour of body. The total length is around 118 to 175 mm, and the length of the tail is 56 and 95 mm. The average weight of this mouse is between 7.6 and 14.5 g. Their life span is around 1 year or maximum to 18 months (Laurie 2009, 1).

Food

Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse feed themselves on Leaves, seeds and stems of plants. Usually they prefer eating pickle-weed and salt-grass, but during winters they prefer eating fresh grass. The northern species of these rodents prefer drinking fresh water, whereas southern species only depend on sea water.

Survival and Spices

They are usually threatened by harsh floods and disasters and survive through the climbing the vegetation. They can easily be attacked by predators such as snakes, owls, birds, and hawks There are two subspecies: northern and southern. The northern ones in the marshes of the San Pablo and Suisun bays. The southern ones in the marshes of Corte Madera, Richmond and South San Francisco Bay.

Living Behavior

Types of home

These rodents live in the salt marshes along the coast line. Their hairy physical structure does not let them saturate in water so quickly, and they have a tendency to float. These animals do not make any burrows for themselves instead; they plan to build a nest from the ...