Angel Island Mouse
CR

Angel Island Mouse

Peromyscus guardia

Declining

Photo: (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés

Overview

The Angel Island mouse, or La Guarda deermouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is a species of the genus Peromyscus, a closely related group of New World mice often called "deermice".

The Angel Island mouse faces severe pressure from invasive predators, particularly feral cats, introduced to some of the islands within its limited range. Its restricted island distribution and small, fragmented populations leave it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and localized predation pressure. Competition with introduced rodents for limited food and shelter resources on arid islets further compounds these risks. Ongoing habitat degradation from sparse desert vegetation cycles and climate variability adds additional stress to an already constrained population.

Threat summary

Habitat

Peromyscus guardia inhabits the arid desert ecosystem of Ángel de la Guarda Island, characterized by rocky terrain, sparse desert scrub vegetation, and cacti communities adapted to extreme aridity. The species utilizes rock crevices, small caves, and areas beneath desert shrubs for shelter and nesting sites.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorRocky areas· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Angel Island Mouse classified as Critically Endangered?
Angel Island Mouse is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Angel Island mouse faces severe pressure from invasive predators, particularly feral cats, introduced to some of the islands within its limited range. Its restricted island distribution and small, fragmented populations leave it highly vulnerable to stochastic events and localized predation pressure. Competition with introduced rodents for limited food and shelter resources on arid islets further compounds these risks. Ongoing habitat degradation from sparse desert vegetation cycles and climate variability adds additional stress to an already constrained population.
Where does Angel Island Mouse live?
Angel Island Mouse occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Angel Island Mouse?
The main threats to Angel Island Mouse are 12.1, and 8.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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