Reithrodontomys megalotis (Western Harvest Mouse)

about the species

The western harvest mouse is common in California and widespread in western North America. Two subspecies, R. m. distichlis (Salinas harvest mouse) and R. m. santacruzae (Santa Cruz Island harvest mouse), are listed in California’s Special Animal List (CDFW 2019) as Critically Imperiled due to the status of their habitats. The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse is endangered due to loss of critical marsh habitat around the San Francisco Bay as a consequence of development and pollution.

why species was selected

The genome sequence of the western harvest mouse will be very useful for understanding genetic variation in the closely-related Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, R. raviventris, which is listed as endangered at the state and federal level.

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