Pat the Pacific pocket mouse – the smallest species of mouse in North America – bagged the title when he hit nine years and 209 days on Wednesday.

Officials from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance confirmed Pat was still going strong on Thursday.

Pat was born at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on July 14, 2013, under a conservation breeding programme that began the year prior, the alliance said.

The tiny creature – whose longevity was recognised by Guinness World Records – weighs less than 6g.

And unlike his namesake, who as Captain Jean-Luc Picard commanded the Starship Enterprise, Pat the Pacific pocket mouse is covered in hair.

The species got its name because of pouches in its cheeks, which are used to carry food and nesting materials.

The animals are found in coastal scrublands, dunes and riverbanks close to the Pacific Ocean. Human encroachment left the species struggling and it was thought to be extinct until a tiny population was discovered in 1994.

Experts at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, whose breeding programme has helped bring the Pacific pocket mouse back from the brink, said the little animals are vital to ecosystems as they distribute seeds and encourage plant growth through their digging.

Last year, the alliance recorded 117 pups born in a record 31 litters. Many of the mice will be reintroduced to the wild sometime during the springtime between March and June.

“This recognition is so special for our team, and is significant for the species,” said Debra Shier of the wildlife alliance.

“This acknowledgement is also a symbol of appreciation for species that people don’t know much about because they’re not charismatic megafauna, but are just as critical for ecosystem function.

“It’s also indicative of the dedication and incredible care we as an organisation provide for each species, from the largest to the very smallest.”