Description and Comparison To Similar Species
The salt marsh harvest mouse has dark brown fur above and a pinkish cinnamon or tawny belly; moreover, the tail is likewise bicolored. An adult's length is twelve to eighteen centimeters (5 to 7 inches) and a tail length of six to ten centimeters (2 to 4 inches). The height is between 1.5 and 2.1 centimeters (0.6 to 0.8 inches). Weight of a mature mouse is approximately 10 to 20 grams (0.35 to 0.7 ounces). The upper incisors are grooved.
This species is nocturnal, with particularly noted activity on moonlit nights. This mouse is particularly resourceful, making use of ground runways of other rodents; moreover, he also exhibits climbing agility. It enjoys subsisting in marsh habitats where glasswort abounds. Luckily the glasswort plant has been increasing around the San Francisco Bay perimeter since the 1980s. Its many predators feature hawk, snake and owl species, as well as shorebirds and larger mammals. Predation by domestic cats is an issue due to encroachment of the limited habitat by humans at the perimeter of the San Francisco Bay.
As would be expected of a mouse native to salt marshes, this species is a competent swimmer and is tolerant of salt in its diet and water supply. It can drink salt water for extended periods of time if necessary, and sometimes even prefers it to fresh. It eats seeds and plants, especially pickleweed and glasswort, one of the most common salt marsh plant species.
Similar species are the Plains Harvest Mouse, which has a distinct but narrower stripe on its spine, and the Fulvous Harvest Mouse, which has a longer tail. Also similar is the Western harvest mouse, which has an underbelly fur that is whitish in color and an indistinct white stripe along the fur above its spine. Finally the House mouse has incisors without grooves, unlike those of the salt marsh harvest mouse.
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