#9: Pacific Pocket Mouse
The Pacific Pocket Mouse, Perognathus longimembris pacificus, was formally recognized in 1932 and lives only in southern California. Adults barely reach three inches, with soft brown fur and a delicate frame built for sandy soils and chaparral. They dig shallow burrows and stash seeds in expandable cheek pouches like tiny grocery bags. Critically endangered and rarely seen, this miniature rodent has become a star of close-up wildlife photography.
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