Nimble-Footed Mouse
Encyclopedia
The nimble-footed mouse (Peromyscus levipes) is a species of rodent
in the family Cricetidae
. It is found only in Mexico
.
, from some of which it can only be distinguished by genetic analysis. It has tawny or buff fur over most of the body, with dusky hairs and white or creamy-white underparts. There is a ring of darker fur around the eyes, and sometimes on the muzzle, and often a faint blackish line down the middle of the back. Adults range from 18 to 22 cm (7.1 to 8.7 ) in total length, a little over half of which consists of the tail, and weigh from 20 gram.
, where it inhabits the Sierra Madre Oriental
mountains from Nuevo León
in the north to Puebla
in the south. It inhabits rocky areas such as bluffs and creeks within forests dominated by oak
, pine
, juniper
, or sweet gum, as well as within cloud forest
s.
Two subspecies are currently recognised:
and are commonly found in areas dominated by trees, with a typical population density of 16 /ha. Known predators include barn owl
s and mottled owl
s. They breed two or three times a year, probably without any distinct breeding season.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the family Cricetidae
Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, and New World rats and mice...
. It is found only in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Description
The nimble-footed mouse has a typical mouse-like appearance, and closely resembles other members of the Peromyscus boylii species groupSpecies group
A species group is an informal taxonomic rank into which an assemblage of closely related species within a genus are grouped because of their morphological similarities and their identity as a biological unit with a single monophyletic origin.-Use:...
, from some of which it can only be distinguished by genetic analysis. It has tawny or buff fur over most of the body, with dusky hairs and white or creamy-white underparts. There is a ring of darker fur around the eyes, and sometimes on the muzzle, and often a faint blackish line down the middle of the back. Adults range from 18 to 22 cm (7.1 to 8.7 ) in total length, a little over half of which consists of the tail, and weigh from 20 gram.
Distribution and habitat
The nimble-footed mouse is found only in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where it inhabits the Sierra Madre Oriental
Sierra Madre Oriental
The Sierra Madre Oriental is a mountain range in northeastern Mexico.-Setting:Spanning the Sierra Madre Oriental runs from Coahuila south through Nuevo León, southwest Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, and Hidalgo to northern Puebla, where it joins with the east-west running Eje Volcánico...
mountains from Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
in the north to Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
in the south. It inhabits rocky areas such as bluffs and creeks within forests dominated by oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
, or sweet gum, as well as within cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
s.
Two subspecies are currently recognised:
- Peromyscus levipes levipes - majority of range
- Peromyscus levipes ambiguus - Neuvo León and western TamaulipasTamaulipasTamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
Biology
Nimble-footed mice are herbivorousHerbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
and are commonly found in areas dominated by trees, with a typical population density of 16 /ha. Known predators include barn owl
Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as Common Barn Owl, to distinguish it from other species in the barn-owl family Tytonidae. These form one of two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical...
s and mottled owl
Mottled Owl
The Mottled Owl is a medium-sized owl found from Mexico to Brazil and Argentina. The body has vertical bars on the chest and throat and white markings in the back. The eyes are dark and the head is round and they do not have ear tufts.It is thirteen to fifteen inches in length...
s. They breed two or three times a year, probably without any distinct breeding season.