Alabama coast mouse
| Alabama coast mouse | ||||||||||||
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Alabama coast mouse ( Peromyscus polionotus ammobates ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Peromyscus polionotus ammobates | ||||||||||||
| Bowen , 1968 |
The Alabama coast mouse ( Peromyscus polionotus ammobates ), also known as the Alabama white-footed mouse, is a subspecies of the coast mouse ( Peromyscus polionotus ) that only lives in the coastal area of the US state of Alabama . The species is threatened with extinction.
Features and way of life
The Alabama coast mouse lives exclusively in the sand dune areas on the seashore. The brightly colored mice dig and nest in the dunes and come to the surface especially at night. The animals feed mainly on plant seeds and small insects. They prefer to stay in areas that are covered with Uniola paniculata , beach grass ( Ammophila breviligulata ) or other grasses and plants. In the case of flooding, the animals are normally well protected within the sand dune by the formation of air-filled chambers.
Ecological importance
Coastal mice are considered an important part of the dune beach ecosystem. Growing coastal mouse populations are indicators of a healthy ecosystem. By putting plant seeds in their storage clamps, the animals also promote the vegetation of the dunes, as seeds that are not eaten germinate and thus stabilize the dunes. As part of the food chain , coast mice also serve as prey for larger predators such as snakes or birds of prey.
Decline and endangerment
The original range of the mouse encompassed a large part of the peninsula around Fort Morgan and reached from Ono Island to the Fort. The settlement of the coast and the growth of these settlement areas as well as the construction of roads greatly fragmented and reduced the range of the animals. By hurricanes , tropical storms and the dunes destruction by visitors to the habitat has been further reduced. Another decrease can be attributed to hunting by wild and domesticated cats as well as strong competition from other rodents in the same distribution area.
The Alabama coast mouse is classified as endangered based on its decline and is protected. One of the most important protected areas is the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Baldwin County , Alabama.
Web links
- NatureServe Report
- FWS report on the Alabama coast mouse (PDF file; 150 kB)