Oldfield mouse
Oldfield mouse at the beach, Alabama
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Peromyscus
Species:
P. polionotus
Binomial name
Peromyscus polionotus
(Wagner, 1843)
Synonyms[2]
List
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. polionotus (Wagner, 1843)
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. ammobates Bowen, 1968
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. phasma Bangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. allophrys Bowen, 1968
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. trissyllepsis Bowen, 1968
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. niveiventris (Chapman, 1889)
  • Mus polionotus Wagner, 1843
  • Peromyscus subgriseus subsp. baliolus Bangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus phasma Bangs, 1898
  • Hesperomys niveiventris Chapman, 1889
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. albifrons Osgood, 1909
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. colemani Schwartz, 1954
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. decoloratus A.H. Howell, 1939
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. leucocephalus A.H. Howell, 1920
  • Peromyscus leucocephalus A.H. Howell, 1920
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. lucubrans Schwartz, 1954
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. peninsularis A.H. Howell, 1939
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. rhoadsi Bangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus subgriseus subsp. rhoadsi Bangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. subgriseus (Chapman, 1893)
  • Sitomys viveiventris subsp. subgriseus Chapman, 1893
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. griseobracatus Bowen, 1968
  • Sitomys niveiventris subsp. subgriseus Chapman, 1893
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. sumneri Bowen, 1968

The oldfield mouse, oldfield deermouse[2] or beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Cricetidae that primarily eats seeds. It lives in holes throughout the Southeastern United States in beaches and sandy fields. Predators to these mice include birds and mammals. In 2016, these mice were in the least concern category on the IUCN Red List with certain subspecies classified as extinct, critically endangered, endangered or near threatened.

Distribution and habitat

The oldfield mouse occurs only in the southeastern United States, ranging from Florida to Tennessee.[1] They primarily live in beaches and sandy fields.[3]

Description

The mouse has fawn-colored upperparts and grey to white underparts through most of its range, but on white sandy beaches, the mouse is light or even white. Inland populations are darker and smaller with shorter tails that are dusky above and white below. General body and tail color may vary slightly depending upon geographical location.[3]

Measurements (20 adults from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia)[3]
Length 127 mm (5.0 in) 122–138 mm (4.8–5.4 in)
Tail 47 mm (1.9 in) 40–51 mm (1.6–2.0 in)
Hind foot 16.5 mm (0.65 in) 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in)
Weight 8–19 g (0.28–0.67 oz)
Diploid number 48
Tooth formula 1.0.0.31.0.0.3 = 16

Behavior

The mouse is primarily nocturnal.[1]

Diet

P. polionotus is omnivorous and the principal diet is seasonal seeds of wild grasses and forbs, but blackberries, acorns, and wild peas may be consumed.[1][4][5]

Shelter

These mice dig holes in earth to create homes. Spiders, snakes, and other animals may move into a burrow.[6]

Reproduction

Reproduction[7]
Sexual maturity (female) 30 days
Gestation 23–24 days
Litter size 3–4 (viviparous)
Weight at birth 1.1–2.2 g (0.039–0.078 oz)
Weaning 20–25 days
Adult weight 8–10 g (0.28–0.35 oz)

Survival

Birds and mammals prey upon the oldfield mouse. Various types of parasites can effect oldfield mice, with nematodes being the main ones.[8] One mouse survived in captivity for 5.5 years.[9]

Conservation

In 2010, the beach mouse was in the least concern category on the IUCN Red List. For the beach mouse's subspecies, out of sixteen known, one is extinct, one was listed critically endangered, four endangered and two near threatened.[1]

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the following beach mice are protected as endangered or threatened subspecies:

The pallid beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus decoloratus) is presumed extinct.[19][20] The Santa Rosa beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus)[21] is listed as critically imperiled by NatureServe.[22]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peromyscus polionotus.
Footnotes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Peromyscus polionotus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T42654A115199876. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42654A22359556.en. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Peromyscus polionotus (Wagner, 1843)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Whitaker 1998, p. 308
  4. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 309
  5. ↑ Wooten
  6. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 308–9
  7. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 309–10
  8. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 310
  9. ↑ Peromyscus polionotus
  10. ↑ "Southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  11. 1 2 54 FR 20598
  12. ↑ "Anastasia Island beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 50 FR 23872
  15. ↑ "Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. ↑ "Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. ↑ "St. Andrew beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  18. ↑ 63 FR 70053
  19. ↑ Foust, Desirae (2002). Demastes, Jim (ed.). "Peromyscus polionotus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  20. ↑ NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Peromyscus polionotus decoloratus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  21. ↑ "Santa Rosa beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  22. ↑ NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
Works cited
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