Reithrodontomys raviventris (Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse)
Credit: William Thein, USGS Western Ecological Research Center
about the species
Reithrodontomys raviventris (Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse), is endemic to regions around the northern and eastern borders of the San Francisco Bay in salt marsh habitats. It is Endangered under federal and state ESA criteria, as well as IUCN. This is due to extreme reduction of suitable habitat around the San Francisco Bay. The species is classified into two subspecies in the northern vs. eastern and southern parts of the bay. It is intimately tied to Pickleweed (Salicornia virginica), which is the preferred habitat and its primary food source.
why species was selected
Inclusion of this species in the CCGP will shed light on how genetic diversity in this species has been allocated into the remaining pockets of habitat around the San Francisco Bay.
