| Nimble-footed mouse [1] | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Neotominae |
| Genus: | Peromyscus |
| Species: | P. levipes |
| Binomial name | |
| Peromyscus levipes Merriam, 1898 | |
The nimble-footed mouse (Peromyscus levipes) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
The nimble-footed mouse has a typical mouse-like appearance, and closely resembles other members of the Peromyscus boylii species group, from some of which it can only be distinguished by genetic analysis. It has tawny or buff fur over most of the body, with dusky hairs and white or creamy-white under parts. There is a ring of darker fur around the eyes, and sometimes on the muzzle, and often a faint blackish line down the middle of the back. Adults range from 18 to 22 cm (7.1 to 8.7 in) in total length, a little over half of which consists of the tail, and weigh from 20 to 30 g (0.7 to 1 oz). [3]
The nimble-footed mouse is found only in Mexico, where it inhabits the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains from Nuevo León in the north to Puebla in the south. [2] It inhabits rocky areas such as bluffs and creeks within forests dominated by oak, pine, juniper, or sweet gum, as well as within cloud forests. [4]
Two subspecies are currently recognised:
Nimble-footed mice are herbivorous and are commonly found in areas dominated by trees, with a typical population density of 16 to 41/ha (6.5 to 16.6/acre). Known predators include barn owls and mottled owls. They breed two or three times a year, probably without any distinct breeding season. [3]
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 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.
The brush mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in mountainous areas of Mexico and the western United States at altitudes over 2,000 m (6,600 ft).
The Perote mouse, or Perote deer mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
The California deermouse or California mouse 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 northwestern Mexico and central to southern California. It is the largest Peromyscus species in the United States.
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 blackish deer mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found only in Mexico, and is relatively poorly studied.
The Angel Island mouse, or La Guarda deermouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
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 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 white-ankled mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.
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 Chiapan deer mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
Kilpatrick's deer mouse is a small species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, native to mountainous regions of Michoacán, Mexico. It is found in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine–oak forests in mesic forest habitats dominated by pine and oak at elevations above 1,600 meters. The species can be found in micro-habitats associated with rocky outcrops and fallen trees. The species is named after Dr. C. William Kilpatrick, curator of vertebrates at the University of Vermont Natural History Museum. The holotype of this species is part of the Natural Science Research Laboratory collections at the Museum of Texas Tech University.
