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Deer mouse - PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Mouse": "Mouse" comes from the Old English word
"mus," for the animal.
Location: North America from Alaska to Mexico.
Habitat: Varied: forest, prairie, rocky terrain, and even near buildings in suburban areas.
Description: The coat is variable in color due to different conditions in different parts of the large geographic area occupied by this species. The color ranges from pale gray to dark reddish brown. The tail is white underneath and dark on top. The feet are white; the eyes and ears are relatively large. Length of head and body is up to four inches, with a five inch tail in addition. It can weigh up to one ounce.
Behavior: This mouse feeds on seeds, nuts, and insects. The nest is dug in the ground or built in the hollow of a tree, in rocks, or in buildings. Food is stored in "larders" in the neat complex.
Reproduction: Mating usually takes place between February and November, varying with the latitude. Gestation lasts about four weeks. There can be up to four litters a year, each with three to five young. The female has 6 nipples, one pair is pectoral and two pairs are on the abdomen.
Note: The genus of deer mice is quite large, having 49 distinct species occurring in various parts of North America. This species is the most widespread and variable of the species.
Go to the Rodents Page to learn more about all the gnawing animals.
Or go to the Mouse Index to study other
mice.
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