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COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group, COPYRIGHT 2005 Thomson Gale, a part of The Thomson Corporation
Anastasia Island Beach Mouse, photographed by P. A. Frank.
Southeastern Beach Mouse, Anastasia Island Beach Mouse
Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris, Peromyscus polionotus phasma
Description
The Anastasia Island beach mouse and southeastern beach mouse are large subspecies relative to other beach mice. Ten adult Anastasia Island beach mice and ten southeastern beach mice averaged 5.4 in (14 cm) in total length, including a tail length of 2 in (5 cm). Adult Anastasia Island beach mice typically weigh from 0.4-0.63 oz (11-18 g), but pregnant females may weigh 0.70-1.05 oz (20-30 g). The coloration of the Anastasia beach mouse is light buff dorsally, white underparts, a unicolor tail, and indistinct white markings on the nose and face. The southeastern beach mouse is slightly darker than the Anastasia Island beach mouse, but paler than inland populations of the Anastasia mouse.
Behavior
Anastasia Island beach mice eat seeds of sea oats, railroad vine, and prickly pear cactus, and it is assumed that the diet of the southeastern beach mouse is the same. Beach mice feed on sea oats and beach grasses. The sea oats must be blown to the ground for the mice to eat. During the spring and early summer when seeds are scarce, beach mice may eat invertebrates.
The young reach maturity at six to eight weeks. Reproduction may occur throughout the year, but peak population levels usually occur in the winter.
Habitat
Both the Anastasia Island and southeastern beach mice are found in coastal dunes. The most seaward vegetation typically consists...
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