Oldfield mouse

The oldfield mouse or beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus), is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Cricetidae and 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 2010, these mice were in the least concern category on the IUCN Red List with certain subspecies classified as extinct or near threatened.

This article is about the North American species. For the South American genus also known as "Oldfield mice", see Thomasomys.

Oldfield mouse
Oldfield mouse at the beach, Alabama
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Peromyscus
Species:
P. polionotus
Binomial name
Peromyscus polionotus
(Wagner, 1843)

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.[2]

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.[2]

Measurements (20 adults from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia)[2]
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][3][4]

Shelter

These mice dig holes in earth to create homes. Spiders, snakes, and other animals may move into a burrow.[5]

Reproduction
Reproduction[6]
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.[7] One mouse survived in captivity for 5.5 years.[8]

Conservation

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

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peromyscus polionotus.
Footnotes
  1. Linzey
  2. Whitaker 1998, p. 308
  3. Whitaker 1998, p. 309
  4. Wooten
  5. Whitaker 1998, p. 308–9
  6. Whitaker 1998, p. 309–10
  7. Whitaker 1998, p. 310
  8. Peromyscus polionotus
Works cited
  • Linzey, A. V. & G. Hammerson, G. (2008), Peromyscus polionotus, IUCN, retrieved February 10, 2010
  • Peromyscus polionotus, Human Ageing Genomic Resources, retrieved February 10, 2010
  • Whitaker, John O. Jr.; Hamilton, William J., Jr. (1998), Mammals of the Eastern United States (3 ed.), Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, ISBN 0-8014-3475-0{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Wooten, Michael C., Peromyscus polionotus: Oldfield mouse, Auburn University, SC, archived from the original on June 13, 2010, retrieved February 11, 2010
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