Volcano mouse
| Volcano mouse | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | P. alstoni
|
| Binomial name | |
| Peromyscus alsoni Carleton & Musser 1984
| |
The Volcano Mouse (Peromyscus alstoni) is a monotypic species which belonged to order Rodentia.[1]
Description
The Volcano mouse has a relatively medium sized compared to other members of its genus. It has a pair of broad, naked ears while its fur is rather soft with grayish to fulvous brown color dorsally and whitish ventrally. Its tail is quite short but sharply bicolored. Compared to its short brain case entrapped in a broad skull, its zygomatic expanded. Its molars are pretty large and densely enameled. No sexual dimorphism in this species.[1]
Distribution
The Volcano mouse is seen to reside restrictively to higher elevation or boreal habitats of the trans-volcanic belt of Central Mexico. There has been no discovery of the fossil record for this species but it seems to have a similarity in appearance to Pliotomodon' fossil. The mouse can perform simple burrowing in a well drained areas and sometimes pass under boulders.[1]
Behavior
Form and Function
The Volcano mouse is a nocturnal rodent which has a biocular discoglandular stomach characterized by an incisure angularis that projects beyond the esophageal. Its glans penis is covered by epidermal spines while the baculum is covered with a cartilaginous cone.[1] Study about its gonad activity shows that when being exposed to short or long day, testis size varies but levels of testosterone and seminiferous tubuli indicates that day length does not inhibit sexual maturity in this species. Thus, the mouse display characteristics of photoperiodic differences corresponding to its behavior, body size and testis size.[2]
Diet
There has been an observation that captive mice develop obesity. These obese mice had a tendency of high percentage of slow sleep waves and less likely to maintain wakefully. In return, they obtain a high concentrations of leptins and insulins indicated a high chance of resistant to these hormones. These lead to the use of vocalno mice as models for studying daily rhythms and metabolic disorders related to obesity.[3]
Ontogeny and Reproduction
Its breeding season begins in the early June till the end of September. Nevertheless, there has been some observation that the breeding season might occur on the early May till the end of November. The litter size ranges from 2 to 5. During this season, adult males have enlarged testes. The young ones from the early litters may mature sexually and produce their own young during the same season.[1] Male with high testosterone levels develop a paternal care which increases better chances of survival and growth of its offspring.[4] This is put under study by captive pair of mouse during postpartum and weaning periods. The presence of male lead to females care less for the young. When both parents present, however, their offspring survival chance increases significantly.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e Williams, Stephen; Ramirez-Pulido, Jose; Baker, Robert. "Peromyscus alstoni" (PDF). Mammalian Species. Virginia Hayssen.
- ^ Fuentes-Granados, Citlalli. "Circadian locomotor activity and response to different light conditions in the Volcano mouse, Neotomodon alstoni". Biological Rhythm Research. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ Citlalli, Fuentes-Granados; Pilar, Duran; Agustin, Carmona-Castro. "Obesity alters the daily sleep homeostasis and metabolism of the volcano mouse Neotomodon alstoni". Biological Rhythm Research. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ J, Luis; L, Ramirez. "Paternal behavior and testosterone plasma levels in the Volcano Mouse Neotomodon alstoni (Rodentia: Muridae)". NCBI. PubMed.
- ^ Luis, Juana; Cervantes, Fernando. "Male Influence on Maternal Behavior and Offspring of Captive Volcano Mice (Neotomodon alstoni) from Mexico". Journal of Mammalogy. Retrieved 12 November 2016.