Perognathus longimembris (Little Pocket Mouse)
about the species
Perognathus longimembris, the little pocket mouse, is distributed across several states in much of the Great Basin, and Baja California, Mexico. It has no particular threats to its distribution across most of its range. However, it is emblematic of rare, desert habitats of southern California.
why species was selected
Genomic data for Perognathus longimembris will illuminate genetic diversity in one of the most restricted mammal subspecies, the Pacific pocket mouse (P. l. pacificus), found only in Orange and San Diego counties. This subspecies has ESA Endangered status, being extremely limited in habitat along the coast in the Orange County and San Diego area. It was given ESA status in 1994 when its numbers were suspected to have shrunk to no more than 36 individuals at Dana Point. Several other sites have been discovered since then. This subspecies is part of a breeding program at the San Diego Zoo, but threats to its natural habitat continue.
