Floridian Nature

Learn about Florida's beautiful and unique nature.





Florida Nature: Endangered Mammals (4)
Sanibel Island Rice rat found only on sanibel island in FloridaSanibel Island Rice Rat (Oryzomys palustris sanibeli) SSC- The Sanibel Island rice rat is a medium sized rat that varies from 9-12.5 inches in length. This rat has a sparsely haired tail that is approximately equal in length to the head and body combined. Fur on the upper side of the Sanibel Island rice rat is a brownish to buff and sometimes sprinkled with black. The underside is a greyish white and the rat's feet are white, with medium sized rounded ears. The Sanibel Island rice rat is only found on Sanibel Island, in Lee County Florida.

Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse , an endangered beach mouse in FloridaChoctawhatchee Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys) Endangered- This is one of several Florida subspecies of oldfield mouse restricted to coastal sand dune ecosystems. These small, light-colored mice burrow and excavate nests within dune sand among sea oats, grasses, herbs and small shrubs. These burrows generally have a main hole and a second hole that is often used to escape a predator at or within the main entrance. Unlike the house mouse, beach mice are not known to live in buildings or frequent garbage sites. The beach mouse's diet consists mostly of the seeds and fruits of plants that grow among the dunes, including parts of sea oats, bluestem, dune spurge, evening primrose, oaks, magnolias and youpon hollies. Critical habitat is designated along 12.6 miles of coast in Walton and Bay Counties, including Grayton Beach State Recreation Area and Topsail Hill Preserve in Walton County, Shell Island and the mainland section of St. Andrew State Recreation Area in Bay County.

sioutheastern beach mouse, an endangered mouse in the state of FloridaSoutheastern Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris) Threatened- The Southeastern beach mouse is the largest beach mouse; it averages 139 millimeters in total length and 52 millimeters in tail length. Although it is darker and more buffy than the Anastasia Island beach mouse, it is still lighter than most inland subspecies of the oldfield mouse. The Southeastern beach mouse lives in burrows in the sand dunes and comes out at night to eat beach grasses and some invertebrates. Beach mice use burrows, including those of ghost crabs, for temporary cover. Their light coloration camouflages them against the sand.



The Anastasia Island beach mouse found only on Anastasia Island in FloridaAnastasia Island Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma) Endangered- The endangered Anastasia Island Beach Mouse is one of several Florida subspecies of oldfield mouse which lives among the sparse vegetation of the coastal dune ecosystem. Looking like tan cotton balls with tails and big eyes, they blend in very well with with the sand. They have a light buff-colored back, pure white underparts, and indistinct, white markings on its nose and face.  The Anastasia Island beach mouse excavates nests in the dunes, preferring sand-covered slopes with patches of sea oats. The mice spend the day in the coolness of their burrows and roam the dunes at night looking for insects and seeds from the dune grasses. The Anastasia Island beach mouse lives in the sand dunes of Anastasia Island and on the unnamed barrier island north of St. Augustine Inlet at the Guana River State Park. 

St. Andrews beach mouse ,endangered in the state of FloridaSt. Andrews Beach Mouse
(Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis) Endangered- Beach mice inhabit coastal dunes in the panhandle and along the Atlantic coast of Florida. Development of coastal areas has caused a loss of habitat for beach mice and other plants and animals that live in the dunes. The St. Andrew beach mouse, with its white feet, large ears, and black eyes, is one of seven subspecies of beach mice that occur only in coastal sand dunes where they excavate burrows and feed on plant seeds and insects. Unlike house mice, beach mice do not seek out human dwellings or other structures for food and shelter.

The Perdido Key Beach MousePerdido Key Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis) Endangered- The Perdido Key beach mouse has a small body, haired tail, relatively large ears, and protuberant eyes. The small white and gray mouse, weighing only 13-16 grams, blends in well with the white quartz sand of northern Gulf coast beaches. The Perdido Key beach mouse is a nocturnal animal, spending most daylight hours in their burrows. Unlike many species, Beach Mice are monogamous, with mated pairs tending to remain together as long as both live. A typical beach mouse pair averages 3-4 offspring per litter and has roughly 3 litters per year While the Perdido Key Beach Mouse feeds primarily on the seeds of sea oats and bluestem, it will occasionally eat insects.
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