| Blackish deer mouse [1] | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Neotominae |
| Genus: | Peromyscus |
| Species: | P. furvus |
| Binomial name | |
| Peromyscus furvus J.A. Allen & Chapman, 1897 | |
The blackish deer mouse (Peromyscus furvus) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found only in Mexico, and is relatively poorly studied.
The blackish deer mouse is a relatively large member of its genus, with a total length of 24 to 28 cm (9.4 to 11.0 in), including the 11-to-14 cm (4.3-to-5.5 in) tail; males are slightly larger than females. As the common name implies, the fur over most of the head and body is a mixture of black and dark brown, giving the animal an overall color that has been described as bistre . However, the feet, and some cases, the tip of the tail, are white, and the underparts are pale grey. There is a ring of pure black fur around the eyes, while the tail has only a sparse covering of hair. The female has six teats, two in the axillary region, and four in the inguinal region. [3]
They are herbivorous, and have been recorded as eating pokeweed fruit and blackberries. They are believed to either breed year-round, or, at least, to have a prolonged breeding season that lasts for much of the year. [3]
The blackish deer mouse is endemic to Mexico, where it inhabits cloud forests, and in nearby forests dominated by oak and pine. It prefers environments with heavy undergrowth or cover in the form of rocky cliffs, small caves, or fallen logs. Although its exact range is unclear, it has been collected from the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains between 650 and 2,900 m (2,130 and 9,510 ft) elevation, from San Luis Potosi in the north to Oaxaca in the south. [2]
There are no formally recognised subspecies, although genetic analysis of specimens collected in Oaxaca has shown these may represent an entirely separate species, which has yet to be scientifically described. [4]
Peromyscus is a genus of rodents. They are commonly referred to as deer mice or deermice, not to be confused with the chevrotain or "mouse deer". They are New World mice only distantly related to the common house and laboratory mouse, Mus musculus. 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" is in reference to this agility.
Schmidly's deer mouse, is a recently described species of deer mouse from the mountains of western Mexico. It is part of the highly complex and well-studied Peromyscus boylii species complex. The uniqueness of Peromyscus from this area had long been suspected, but was only formalized in 2004 with the publication of its species description. The species was named in honor of David J. Schmidly, a mammalogist and former president of the University of New Mexico.
The Neotominae are a subfamily of the family Cricetidae. They consist of four tribes, 16 genera, and many species of New World rats and mice, predominantly found in North America. Among them are the well-known deer mice, white-footed mice, packrats, and grasshopper mice.
The Mexican volcano mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae endemic to high elevation areas of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.
The Texas mouse 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.
The Aztec mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, native to southern Mexico and parts of Central America.
Dickey's deer mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to Mexico, being found only on a small island in the Gulf of California. The species is named for Donald Dickey, who sponsored the expedition that first discovered the animal.
The Zacatecan deer mouse or southern rock mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico, and is not considered endangered.
Eva's desert mouse is a species of rodent in the genus Peromyscus of the family Cricetidae found only in the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.
The Angel Island mouse, or La Guarda deermouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
Hooper's mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is the only member of the Peromyscus hooperi species group, and is found only in Mexico. The species is named for Emmett Hooper, a researcher into the taxonomy of the genus Peromyscus.
The nimble-footed mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
The Tres Marías island mouse or Tres Marías deer mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only on the Islas Marías off the west coast of Mexico. When last assessed, it was common on María Cleofás Island, but rare or absent on the other, more disturbed, islands.
The black-eared mouse, or black-eared deer mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, native to North America.
The Mexican deer mouse is a species of forest-dwelling rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in southern Mexico and throughout much of Central America.
The tawny deer mouse or marsh mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
The false canyon mouse or Coronados deer mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is known only from Coronados Island, a small island in the Gulf of California, part of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The species is threatened by predation by feral cats, and the IUCN has assessed its conservation status as "critically endangered".
The Nayarit mouse or Sinaloan deer mouse is a species of cricetid rodent endemic to Mexico. It was considered a subspecies of brush mouse until 1977.
Winkelmann's mouse 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.
The large-toothed shrew or Mexican large-toothed shrew is one of 77 species within the genus Sorex. Registered on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable with a decreasing population, the Mexican large-toothed shrew has been recorded only 14 times in seven locations. The shrew is a member of the red-toothed shrew subfamily Soricinae, and the more taxonomically defined tribe Soricini. Members of the latter category exhibit long tails relative to body size.
