Oldfield mouse

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Oldfield mouse
Peromyscus polionotus ammobates.jpg
Oldfield mouse at the beach, Alabama
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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. ammobatesBowen, 1968
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. phasmaBangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. allophrysBowen, 1968
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. trissyllepsisBowen, 1968
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. niveiventris(Chapman, 1889)
  • Mus polionotusWagner, 1843
  • Peromyscus subgriseus subsp. baliolusBangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus phasmaBangs, 1898
  • Hesperomys niveiventrisChapman, 1889
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. albifronsOsgood, 1909
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. colemaniSchwartz, 1954
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. decoloratusA.H. Howell, 1939
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. leucocephalusA.H. Howell, 1920
  • Peromyscus leucocephalusA.H. Howell, 1920
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. lucubransSchwartz, 1954
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. peninsularisA.H. Howell, 1939
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. rhoadsiBangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus subgriseus subsp. rhoadsiBangs, 1898
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. subgriseus(Chapman, 1893)
  • Sitomys viveiventris subsp. subgriseusChapman, 1893
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. griseobracatusBowen, 1968
  • Sitomys niveiventris subsp. subgriseusChapman, 1893
  • Peromyscus polionotus subsp. sumneriBowen, 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]
Length127 mm (5.0 in)122–138 mm (4.8–5.4 in)
Tail47 mm (1.9 in)40–51 mm (1.6–2.0 in)
Hind foot16.5 mm (0.65 in)15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in)
Weight8–19 g (0.28–0.67 oz)
Diploid number 48
Tooth formula1.0.0.31.0.0.3 = 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
Gestation23–24 days
Litter size3–4 (viviparous)
Weight at birth1.1–2.2 g (0.039–0.078 oz)
Weaning20–25 days
Adult weight8–10 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]

Related Research Articles

<i>Peromyscus</i> Genus of mammals

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.

The pallid beach mouse or Ponce de Leon beach mouse, is an extinct subspecies of the oldfield mouse that was endemic to Florida in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservation status</span> Indication of the chance of extinction

The conservation status of a group of organisms indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation status: not simply the number of individuals remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, and known threats. Various systems of conservation status are in use at international, multi-country, national and local levels, as well as for consumer use such as sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification. The two international systems are by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt marsh harvest mouse</span> Species of rodent

The salt-marsh harvest mouse, also known as the red-bellied harvest mouse, is an endangered rodent endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area salt marshes in California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preble's meadow jumping mouse</span> Subspecies of mammal

Preble's meadow jumping mouse is a subspecies of meadow jumping mouse, endemic to the upland habitats of Colorado and Wyoming in North America. It is found nowhere else in the world. It is listed as Threatened under the United States Endangered Species Act; there is a major debate about whether it is a valid taxon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Key Largo woodrat</span> Subspecies of rodent endemic to Key Largo, Florida, United States

The Key Largo woodrat, a subspecies of the eastern woodrat, is a medium-sized rat found on less than 2,000 acres of the northern area of Key Largo, Florida, in the United States. It is currently on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered species. Only 6500 animals were thought to remain in North Key Largo in the late 1980s.

<i>Echinacea tennesseensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Echinacea tennesseensis, also known as the Tennessee coneflower or Tennessee purple coneflower, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, endemic to the cedar glades of the central portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama beach mouse</span> Subspecies of oldfield mouse

The Alabama beach mouse is a federally endangered subspecies of oldfield mouse that lives along the Alabama coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife of North Carolina</span> Flora and fauna of the US state of North Carolina

This article seeks to serve as a field-guide, central repository, and listing for the flora and fauna of the US state of North Carolina and surrounding territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve</span>

In 1999, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve was designated in St. Johns and Flagler counties, Florida as a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) system. The GTM Research Reserve represents the east Florida sub-region of the Carolinian bioregion. It is one of 30 NERRs in 23 states and one territory. GTM is one of three NERRs in Florida and is administered on behalf of the state by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Coastal Office as part of a network that includes forty-one aquatic preserves, three NERRs, a National Marine Sanctuary, the Coral Reef Conservation Program and the Florida Oceans and Coastal Council. Additional interests are held in the research and management of the GTM and connected preserved or conserved lands including:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anastasia Island beach mouse</span> Subspecies of rodent

The Anastasia Island beach mouse is a subspecies of the oldfield mouse of the southeastern United States. It occurs in the sand dunes of Florida beaches. It has been classified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as an endangered species due to the specificity of its habitat and the natural and human-induced destruction thereof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton mouse</span> Species of rodent

The cotton mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found in the woodlands of the US South.

Epioblasma othcaloogensis, the southern acornshell or southern acorn riffle shell, was a species of freshwater mussel in the family Unionidae. It was only known from the Coosa and Cahaba Rivers of the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perdido Key beach mouse</span> Subspecies of rodent

The Perdido Key beach mouse is an endangered subspecies of the oldfield mouse. It is found on Perdido Key. The small white and gray mouse, weighing only 13–16 g (0.46–0.56 oz), blends in well with the white quartz sand of northern Gulf coast beaches.

<i>Amaranthus pumilus</i> Species of flowering plant

Amaranthus pumilus, the seaside amaranth or seabeach amaranth, is a species of amaranth. This annual plant is now a threatened species, although it was formerly scattered along the eastern coast of the United States, its native range.

<i>Clematis socialis</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Clematis socialis is a rare species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name Alabama leather flower. It is native to the US states of Alabama and Georgia, where it is known from only five populations. The species is seriously threatened by habitat destruction. It is a federally listed endangered species.

Spotfin chub is a ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae that is endemic to the Tennessee River watershed. Its other common names include turquoise shiner and chromium shiner.

<i>Sierra Club v. Babbitt</i> United States District Court case

Sierra Club v. Babbitt, 15 F. Supp. 2d 1274, is a United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama case in which the Sierra Club and several other environmental organizations and private citizens challenged the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Plaintiffs filed action seeking declaratory injunctive relief regarding two incidental take permits (ITPs) issued by the FWS for the construction of two isolated high-density housing complexes in habitat of the endangered Alabama beach mouse. The District Court ruled that the FWS must reconsider its decision to allow high-density development on the Alabama coastline that might harm the endangered Alabama beach mouse. The District Court found that the FWS violated both the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by permitting construction on the dwindling beach mouse habitat.

The Key Largo cotton mouse is a subspecies of rodent in the family Cricetidae. The subspecies is endemic to Key Largo in the upper Florida Keys. It is a slightly larger mouse with a more reddish color than other mouse species from mainland Florida. The Key Largo cotton mouse can breed throughout the year and has an average life expectancy of five months.

References

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. 3089
  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