rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
s. They are commonly referred to as deer mice or deermice, not to be confused with the
chevrotain
Chevrotains, or mouse-deer, are small even-toed ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, the only extant members of the infraorder Tragulina. The 10 extant species are placed in three genera, but several species also are known only ...
or "mouse deer". They are New World mice only distantly related to the common house and laboratory mouse, ''
Mus musculus
Mus or MUS may refer to:
Abbreviations
* MUS, the NATO country code for Mauritius
* MUS, the IATA airport code for Minami Torishima Airport
* MUS, abbreviation for the Centre for Modern Urban Studies on Campus The Hague, Leiden University, Neth ...
''. From this relative, ''Peromyscus'' species are distinguished by relatively larger eyes, and also often two-tone coloring, with darker colors over the dorsum (back), and white abdominal and limb hair-coloring. In reference to the coloring, the word ''Peromyscus'' comes from Greek words meaning "booted mouse". They are also accomplished jumpers and runners by comparison to house mice, and their common name of "deer mouse" (coined in 1833) is in reference to this agility.
The most common species of deer mice in the continental
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
are two closely related species, '' P. maniculatus'' and '' P. leucopus''. In the United States, ''Peromyscus'' is the most populous
mammal
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...
ian
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
overall, and has become notorious in the western
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
as a carrier of
hantaviruses
''Orthohantavirus'' is a genus of single-stranded, enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses in the family '' Hantaviridae'' within the order ''Bunyavirales''. Members of this genus may be called orthohantaviruses or simply hantaviruses.
Orthohantav ...
.CDC – Hantavirus Cdc.gov (2012-11-01). Retrieved on 2014-01-05.
Reservoir of human disease
Hantavirus
The deer mouse came to the attention of the public when it was discovered to be the primary reservoir species for Sin Nombre
hantavirus
''Orthohantavirus'' is a genus of single-stranded, enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses in the family ''Hantaviridae'' within the order ''Bunyavirales''. Members of this genus may be called orthohantaviruses or simply hantaviruses.
Orthohantav ...
.
Lyme disease
A recent study in British Columbia of 218 deer mice showed 30% (66) were seropositive for ''
Borrelia burgdorferi
''Borrelia burgdorferi'' is a bacterial species of the spirochete class in the genus ''Borrelia'', and is one of the causative agents of Lyme disease in humans. Along with a few similar genospecies, some of which also cause Lyme disease, it make ...
'', the agent of
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a vector-borne disease caused by the ''Borrelia'' bacterium, which is spread by ticks in the genus ''Ixodes''. The most common sign of infection is an expanding red rash, known as erythema migran ...
.
Other diseases
Ehrlichiosis
Ehrlichiosis is a Tick-borne disease, tick-borne
bacterial infection, caused by bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae, genera ''Ehrlichia'' and ''Anaplasma''. These Obligate intracellular parasite, obligate intracellular bacteria infect and kill ...
and
babesiosis
Babesiosis or piroplasmosis is a malaria-like parasitic disease caused by infection with a eukaryotic parasite in the order Piroplasmida, typically a ''Babesia'' or ''Theileria'', in the phylum Apicomplexa. Human babesiosis transmission via ti ...
While wild populations are sometimes studied, ''Peromyscus'' species are also easy to breed and keep in captivity, although they are more energetic and difficult to handle than the relatively more tame ''M. musculus''. For certain studies, they are also favored over the
laboratory mouse
The laboratory mouse or lab mouse is a small mammal of the order Rodentia which is bred and used for scientific research or feeders for certain pets. Laboratory mice are usually of the species ''Mus musculus''. They are the most commonly used ...
(''M. musculus domestica'') and the
laboratory rat
A laboratory rat or lab rat is a brown rat of the subspecies '' Rattus norvegicus domestica'' which is bred and kept for scientific research. While less commonly used for research than mice (see laboratory mouse), rats have served as an importa ...
(''Rattus norvegicus domestica''). Apart from their importance in studying infectious diseases, ''Peromyscus'' species are useful for studying
phylogeography
Phylogeography is the study of the historical processes that may be responsible for the past to present geographic distributions of genealogical lineages. This is accomplished by considering the geographic distribution of individuals in light of ge ...
,
speciation
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. The biologist Orator F. Cook coined the term in 1906 for cladogenesis, the splitting of lineages, as opposed to anagenesis, phyletic evolution within ...
,
chromosome
A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells the most important of these proteins are ...
s,
genetics
Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinian friar wor ...
,
ecology
Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...
,
population genetics
Population genetics is a subfield of genetics that deals with genetic differences within and between populations, and is a part of evolutionary biology. Studies in this branch of biology examine such phenomena as adaptation, speciation, and pop ...
, conservation and
evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...
in general. They are also useful for researching repetitive-movement disorders. Their use in aging research is because ''Peromyscus'' spp., despite being of similar size to the standard laboratory mouse, have maximum lifespans of 5–7 years, compared to the 3-year maximum lifespan of ''ad libitum''-fed laboratory strains or wild-caught ''M. musculus''. The Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center at the University of South Carolina was established by Professor Wallace Dawson in 1985 to raise
animal
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Kingdom (biology), biological kingdom Animalia. With few exceptions, animals Heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, are Motilit ...
s of the peromyscine species for research and educational use. This institute maintains populations of several different species (including ''
Peromyscus californicus
The California deermouse or California mouse (''Peromyscus californicus'') is a species of rodent in the subfamily Neotominae in the family Cricetidae. It is the only species in the ''Peromyscus californicus'' species group. It is found in nort ...
,
Peromyscus maniculatus
''Peromyscus maniculatus'' is a rodent native to eastern North America. It is most commonly called the eastern deer mouse; when formerly grouped with the western deer mouse (''P. sonoriensis''), it was referred to as the North American deermous ...
biochemistry
Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology and ...
, and the color of their coats is exhibited in these genetic lines.
Species
*''Peromyscus''
**''californicus'' group
*** California deermouse – ''P. californicus''
**''eremicus'' group
*** Cactus mouse – ''P. eremicus''
***
Angel Island mouse
The Angel Island mouse (''Peromyscus guardia''), or La Guarda deermouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
Distribution
It is endemic to Mexico, where it is historically known only from the island of Ángel de la Guarda and near ...
– ''P. guardia'' – possibly extinct
****''P. g. guardia'' – last seen 1991
****''P. g. mejiae'' – extinct (1973)
****''P. g. harbisoni'' – extinct (1963)
****''P. guardia'' subsp. indet. from Estanque Island – extinct (1998)
*** San Lorenzo mouse – ''P. interparietalis''
*** Northern Baja deer mouse– ''P. fraterculus''
*** Dickey's deer mouse – ''P. dickeyi''
*** False canyon mouse – ''P. pseudocrinitus''
*** Eva's desert mouse – ''P. eva''
*** Burt's deer mouse– ''P. caniceps''
*** Mesquite mouse – ''P. merriami''
*** Pemberton's deer mouse – ''P. pembertoni'' – extinct (1931)
**''hooperi'' group
*** Hooper's mouse – ''P. hooperi''
**''crinitus'' group
*** Canyon mouse – ''P. crinitus''
**''maniculatus'' group
*** Eastern deer mouse − ''P. maniculatus''
*** Oldfield mouse or beach mouse – ''P. polionotus''
****''P. p. allophrys''
****''P. p. ammobates''
**** Pallid beach mouse ''P. p. decoloratus'' – extinct (1959)
****''P. p. leucocephalus''
****''P. p. niveiventris''
****''P. p. peninsularis''
****
Anastasia Island beach mouse
The Anastasia Island beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus phasma'') is a subspecies of the oldfield mouse of the southeastern United States. It occurs in the sand dunes of Florida and Alabama beaches. It has been classified by the United States F ...
''P. p. phasma''
****''P. p. trissyllepsis''
***
Santa Cruz mouse
The Santa Cruz mouse (''Peromyscus sejugis'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found only on two small islands in the southern Gulf of California. Feral cats on Santa Cruz Island are a threat. ...
Northwestern deer mouse
The northwestern deer mouse or Keen's mouse (''Peromyscus keeni'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in British Columbia in Canada and in Alaska and Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), Uni ...
Yukon deer mouse
The Yukon deermouse or Yukon deer mouse (''Peromyscus arcticus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Yukon Territory in Canada.
Taxonomy
The species was first identified as ''Peromyscus arcticus'' in 1845 by Joha ...
– ''P. arcticus''
***
Gambel's deer mouse
Gambel's deermouse or Gambel's deer mouse (''Peromyscus gambelii'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is native to the United States and Mexico.
Taxonomy
It was formerly considered a subspecies of the western deer mouse (''P. ...
– ''P. gambelii''
***
Western deer mouse
The western deermouse or western deer mouse (''Peromyscus sonoriensis'') is a rodent native to North America. It is widespread throughout the western half of the continent, mainly in areas west of the Mississippi River.
Taxonomy
It was former ...
– ''P. sonoriensis''
***
Southern deer mouse
The southern deermouse or southern deer mouse (''Peromyscus labecula'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in the United States and Mexico.
Taxonomy
The species was originally thought to be conspecific with the North ...
– ''P. labecula''
***†Giant island deer mouse – '' P. nesodytes'' – extinct
**''leucopus'' group
***
White-footed mouse
The white-footed mouse (''Peromyscus leucopus'') is a rodent native to North America from Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, and the Maritime Provinces (excluding the island of Newfoundland) to the southwestern United States and Mexico. In the Maritimes, ...
– ''P. leucopus''
***
Cotton mouse
The cotton mouse (''Peromyscus gossypinus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found in the woodlands of the US South.
Description
Adults are about long, with a tail around , and weigh 34-51 g. Its general appearance is very si ...
– ''P. gossypinus''
****
Key Largo cotton mouse
The Key Largo cotton mouse (''Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola'') is a subspecies of the cotton mouse (''Peromyscus gossypinus'') and is found on Key Largo in the upper Florida Keys. It is a slightly larger mouse with a more reddish color th ...
''P. g. allapaticola''
****†
Chadwick Beach cotton mouse
The Chadwick Beach cotton mouse (''Peromyscus gossypinus restrictus'') is a presumably extinct subspecies of the cotton mouse. It was confined to a small area on the Manasota Key Peninsula in Florida.
Description
It was smaller and paler than ...
Winkelmann's mouse
Winkelmann's mouse (''Peromyscus winkelmanni'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found only in Mexico, and is named for John R. Winkelmann, who collected the first specimens.
Description
Rather larger than a house mouse, an adult ...
Transvolcanic deer mouse
The transvolcanic deer mouse (''Peromyscus hylocetes'') is a species of rodent in the genus ''Peromyscus'' of the family Cricetidae found only in Mexico.
Habitat
The Transvolcanic deer mouse is found from west central Jalisco eastwards to Mexic ...
Orizaba deer mouse
The Orizaba deer mouse (''Peromyscus beatae'') is a small species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, native to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country i ...
Perote mouse
The Perote mouse (''Peromyscus bullatus''), or Perote deer mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
Description
The Perote mouse is the size of a small rat, with a total length of , including a hairy t ...
Osgood's mouse
Osgood's mouse (''Peromyscus gratus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico. Its name references Wilfred Hudson Osgood.
References
* Baillie, J. (1996).Peromyscus gratus 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Spe ...
– ''P. gratus''
***
Northern rock mouse
The northern rock mouse (''Peromyscus nasutus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) ...
– ''P. nasutus''
***
Pinyon mouse
The pinyon mouse (''Peromyscus truei'') is native to the southwestern United States and Baja California in Mexico. These medium-sized mice are often distinguished by their relatively large ears. The range of this species extends from southern ...
– ''P. truei''
***
Texas mouse
The Texas mouse (''Peromyscus attwateri'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas in the United States. This species is named in honor of Henry Philemon Attwater.
Descrip ...
Mexican deer mouse
The Mexican deer mouse (''Peromyscus mexicanus'') is a species of forest-dwelling rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in southern Mexico and throughout much of Central America.
Description
Mexican deer mice are moderately sized mouse-l ...
Chiapan deer mouse
The Chiapan deer mouse (''Peromyscus zarhynchus'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
Distribution and habitat
The Chiapan deer mouse is endemic to central and southeast Chiapas, México. The species occ ...