Florida Mouse

Podomys floridanus

(Photo by FWC)

Taxonomic Classification

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae Genus/Species: Podomys floridanus Common Name: Florida mouse

Listing Status

Federal Status: Not listed FL Status: State Species of Special Concern FNAI Ranks: G3/S3 (Rare) IUCN Status: VU (Vulnerable)

Physical Description

The Florida mouse is a large member of the genus Podomys that can reach a length of eight inches (20.3 centimeters) and a weight of 0.7 to 1.7 ounces (36.9-49 grams). This species has a

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yellowish-brown upper body with orange colored sides and a white belly. It also has five plantar tubercles (foot pads) on each foot, which is distinct to the species (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001, Layne 1990, Layne 1992, Jones and Layne 1993).

Life History

The diet of the Florida mouse primarily consists of seeds, plants, fungi, and insects (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.).

The Florida mouse digs small burrows inside the burrows of other species, primarily the gopher tortoise, where they will prepare a nest (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d.). Reproduction occurs throughout the year, but peaks in the fall and winter. The number of young per litter is typically between two and four. Offspring are weaned at three to four weeks of age (Jones 1990, Layne 1990, Jones and Lane 1993).

Habitat & Distribution

The Florida mouse inhabits xeric uplands (ecological communities with well drained soils) such as sandhill and scrub (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001). Peripheral peninsular counties are St. Johns, Clay, Putnam, Alachua, Suwannee, and Taylor counties in the north, south to Sarasota County on the west coast (although not documented in Sarasota County in recent years), south to Highlands County in central Florida, and, at least formerly, south to Dade County on the east coast (now south to near Boynton Beach (Layne 1992; Jones and Layne 1993; Pergams et al. 2008).

Threats

The Florida mouse exhibits narrow preferences for fire-maintained, xeric upland habitats occurring on deep, well-drained soils, especially scrub and sandhill habitats (Jones and Layne 1993). Because of this narrow habitat specificity, the major threat to the Florida mouse is loss and degradation of habitat caused by conversion to other uses (e.g. development and agricultural use) and insufficient management (e.g., fire suppression) (Layne 1990, 1992). In Highlands County, 64% of the species’ habitat was destroyed between 1940 and 1980, with an additional 10% considered disturbed or degraded (Layne 1992).

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Conservation & Management

The Florida mouse is protected as a State Species of Special Concern by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.

-Biological Status Review (BSR) -Supplemental Information for the BSR