Peromyscus

Peromyscus is a <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genus</a> of <a href="/facts/Rodent/mT4m8QJq">rodents</a>. They are commonly referred to as deer mice or deermice, not to be confused with the <a href="/facts/Chevrotain/mTgrQobj">chevrotain</a> or "mouse deer". They are <a href="/facts/New_World_mouse/PqLRLuIX">New World mice</a> only distantly related to the common house and laboratory mouse, <a href="/facts/Mus_musculus/A1fj6LQ2">Mus musculus</a>. From this distant relative, Peromyscus species are distinguished by relatively larger eyes, and also often <a href="/facts/Countershading/oEWFkYsE">two-tone coloring</a>, with darker colors over the dorsum (back), and white abdominal and limb hair-coloring. In reference to the coloring, the word Peromyscus comes from Greek words meaning "booted mouse". They are also accomplished jumpers and runners by comparison to house mice, and their common name of "deer mouse" (coined in 1833) is in reference to both this agility as well as their two-toned coloring.
The most common species of deer mice in the continental <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> are two closely related species, <a href="/facts/Peromyscus_maniculatus/oFj1GFqW">P. maniculatus</a> and <a href="/facts/Peromyscus_leucopus/SpjqaWLu">P. leucopus</a>. In the United States, Peromyscus is the most populous <a href="/facts/Mammal/phSwTzBo">mammalian</a> <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genus</a> overall, and has become notorious in the western <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> as a carrier of <a href="/facts/Hantaviruses/a6VWRvDR">hantaviruses</a>.

Peromyscus open-in-new

Peromyscus