Peromyscus maniculatus

Deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus )

The ( Actual ) deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus ) is a living in North and Central America nature of the New world. The term deer mice is also applied to other species of the genus of Weißfußmäuse ( Peromyscus ).

Features

Deer mice are rather small New world, they reach a body length 7-11 cm, the tail length is variable according to population and habitat and may be 5 to 11 centimeters. The weight of the animals is from 10 to 25 grams. Animals that live in the forest land, are slightly larger and have longer legs and tails than animals that live in the grasslands. The snout is pointed, the eyes are large and dark, too hairy ears large and sparse. Their fur is gray to red-brown at the top, the belly and feet are white. Also the tail is two-color - darker at the top than at the bottom - and the colors are sharply separated.

Distribution and habitat

Deer mice are common from Alaska and northern Canada across much of the United States into southern Mexico ( Oaxaca ). They are highly variable in terms of their habitat and will occupy different forests and bush areas lined, grasslands, mountainous regions and deserts. Most often they are in prairies, open woods and bush country.

Way of life

Deer mice hold primarily on the ground, but can also climb well. They are nocturnal and spend the day in a self- built nests. These nests are often in grasslands. In burrows under the ground, in forests in tree hollows, abandoned bird nests or in the branches They live together in groups consisting usually of one male, several females and their associated young animals. In winter they form groups of ten or more animals, they huddle together in the nests in order to warm each other.

They are opportunistic omnivores who eat different plants and animals. On her diet consists of seeds, fruits, flowers, nuts, insects and other invertebrates. In the cooler months, they gather food in food storage, they do not hibernate.

Reproduction

Deer mice are very fertile, in the laboratory, a female unsubscribe 14 litters a year. In warm weather they breed every three to four weeks, the gestation period is 22 to 30 days. Litter size depends inter alia on habitat and can range from one to eleven, there are usually four to six pups. This open his eyes with 2 weeks and are weaned at 25 to 35 days. Sexual maturity occurs at 35 to 49 days.

Deer mice and men

Deer mice are widespread and include in some regions of the most common mammals. In some places they are as a carrier of hantavirus, Sin Nombre particular virus, feared.