Oldfield mouse

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Species of rodent

title: "Oldfield mouse" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["peromyscus", "mammals-described-in-1843", "endemic-rodents-of-the-united-states", "taxonomy-articles-created-by-polbot"] description: "Species of rodent" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldfield_mouse" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of rodent ::

::callout[type=note] the North American species ::

| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = | status2 = G5 | status2_system = TNC | status2_ref = | image = Peromyscus polionotus ammobates.jpg | image_caption = Oldfield mouse at the beach, Alabama | genus = Peromyscus | species = polionotus | authority = (Wagner, 1843) | synonyms = {{Collapsible list|bullets=yes|Peromyscus polionotus subsp. polionotus (Wagner, 1843) |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. ammobates Bowen, 1968 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. phasma Bangs, 1898 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. allophrys Bowen, 1968 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. trissyllepsis Bowen, 1968 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. niveiventris (Chapman, 1889) |Mus polionotus Wagner, 1843 |Peromyscus subgriseus subsp. baliolus Bangs, 1898 |Peromyscus phasma Bangs, 1898 |Hesperomys niveiventris Chapman, 1889 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. albifrons Osgood, 1909 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. colemani Schwartz, 1954 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. decoloratus A.H. Howell, 1939 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. leucocephalus A.H. Howell, 1920 |Peromyscus leucocephalus A.H. Howell, 1920 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. lucubrans Schwartz, 1954 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. peninsularis A.H. Howell, 1939 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. rhoadsi Bangs, 1898 |Peromyscus subgriseus subsp. rhoadsi Bangs, 1898 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. subgriseus (Chapman, 1893) |Sitomys viveiventris subsp. subgriseus Chapman, 1893 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. griseobracatus Bowen, 1968 |Sitomys niveiventris subsp. subgriseus Chapman, 1893 |Peromyscus polionotus subsp. sumneri Bowen, 1968 |synonyms_ref= | range_map = Elife06813f002.jpg | range_map_caption =

The oldfield mouse, oldfield deermouse or beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus) is a nocturnal species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is a species of the genus Peromyscus, a closely related group of New World mice often called "deermice", 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.

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. ::data[format=table]

Measurements (20 adults from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia)StatisticAverageRange
Length127 mm122 -
Tail47 mm40 -
Hind foot16.5 mm15 -
Weight8 -
Diploid number48
Tooth formula= 16
::

Behavior

The mouse is primarily nocturnal.

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.

Shelter

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

Reproduction

::data[format=table]

Reproduction
Sexual maturity (female)
Gestation
Litter size
Weight at birth
Weaning
Adult weight
::

Survival

Birds and mammals prey upon the oldfield mouse. Various types of parasites can effect oldfield mice, with nematodes being the main ones. One mouse survived in captivity for 5.5 years.

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.

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the following beach mice are protected as endangered or threatened subspecies:

The pallid beach mouse (P. p. decoloratus) is presumed extinct. The Santa Rosa beach mouse (P. p. leucocephalus) is listed as critically imperiled by NatureServe.

Predation

In Florida, beach mice may be eaten by some growth stage of invasive snakes such as Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, Southern African rock pythons, Central African rock pythons, boa constrictors, yellow anacondas, Bolivian anacondas, dark-spotted anacondas, and green anacondas.

References

;Footnotes ;Works cited

References

  1. Cassola, F.. (2016). "''Peromyscus polionotus''".
  2. "''Peromyscus polionotus''".
  3. {{ITIS
  4. They primarily live in beaches and sandy fields.Whitaker 1998, p. 308
  5. Wooten
  6. Whitaker 1998, p. 308–9
  7. Whitaker 1998, p. 309–10
  8. Whitaker 1998, p. 310
  9. ''Peromyscus polionotus''
  10. "Southeastern beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris'')". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
  11. {{Federal Register. 54. 20598
  12. "Anastasia Island beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus phasma'')". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
  13. "Alabama beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus ammobates'')". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
  14. {{Federal Register. 50. 23872
  15. "Perdido Key beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis'')". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
  16. "St. Andrew beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis'')". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
  17. {{Federal Register. 63. 70053
  18. Foust, Desirae. (2002). "''Peromyscus polionotus''".
  19. NatureServe. (7 April 2023). "''Peromyscus polionotus decoloratus''". NatureServe.
  20. "Santa Rosa beach mouse (''Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus'')". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
  21. NatureServe. (7 April 2023). "''Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus''". NatureServe.
  22. (January 2012). "Final Environmental Assessment For The Large Constrictor Snakes Listed As Injurious Wildlife Lisyed As Injurious Wildlife under the Lacey Act". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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