Oldfield mouse

Oldfield mouse
Oldfield mouse at the beach, Alabama
Secure
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Peromyscus
Species:
P. polionotus
Binomial name
Peromyscus polionotus
(Wagner, 1843)
      native range
Synonyms
List
  • 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

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. They primarily live in beaches and sandy fields.

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 to help them stay hidden from predators. 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.

Measurements (20 adults from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia)
Statistic Average Range
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. Oldfield mice construct elaborate burrow systems with entrance tunnels, nest chambers, and escape routes.

Diet

P. polionotus is omnivorous and the principal diet is seasonal seeds of wild grasses and forbs, but blackberries, acorns, wild peas, and arthropods may be consumed.

Shelter

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

Reproduction

The mice are monogamous. When they are born, the baby mice are vulnerable, hairless, and blind.

Reproduction
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. The average lifespan of a mouse in the wild is 18 months, though one mouse survived in captivity for 5.5 years. They are primarily nocturnal to avoid predation.

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
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Peromyscus polionotus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T42654A115199876. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T42654A22359556.en. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  2. ↑ NatureServe. "Peromyscus polionotus". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Peromyscus polionotus (Wagner, 1843)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Whitaker 1998, p. 308
  5. ↑ Weber, J. N.; Peterson, B. K.; Hoekstra, H. E. (2013). "Discrete genetic modules are responsible for complex burrow evolution in Peromyscus mice". Nature. 493 (7432): 402–405. doi:10.1038/nature11816.
  6. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 309
  7. ↑ Wooten
  8. 1 2 3 "Beach Mouse articles - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Archived from the original on 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
  9. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 308–9
  10. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 309–10
  11. ↑ Whitaker 1998, p. 310
  12. ↑ Peromyscus polionotus
  13. ↑ "Southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  14. 1 2 54 FR 20598
  15. ↑ "Anastasia Island beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. ↑ "Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 50 FR 23872
  18. ↑ "Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "St. Andrew beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  21. ↑ 63 FR 70053
  22. ↑ Foust, Desirae (2002). Demastes, Jim (ed.). "Peromyscus polionotus". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  23. ↑ NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Peromyscus polionotus decoloratus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "Santa Rosa beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  25. ↑ NatureServe (7 April 2023). "Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  26. ↑ 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. January 2012.
Works cited