Peromyscus sonoriensis
| Western Deermouse
(Peromyscus sonoriensis) | |
|---|---|
| Range | |
 | |
| Taxonomic classification | |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Suborder: | Supramyomorpha |
| Infraorder: | Myomorphi |
| Superfamily: | Muroidea |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Neotominae |
| Tribe: | Peromyscini |
| Genus: | Peromyscus |
| Binomial details | |
| Peromyscus sonoriensis (Le Conte, 1853) | |
| Other resources | |
| Full taxonomic details at MDD | |
Molecular studies by Bradley et al. (2019) and Greenbaum et. al (2019) indicate that Peromyscus maniculatus is a complex of multiple species. Both studies elevate some lineages within maniculatus to species status, including Peromyscus sonoriensis. However, analyses by Boria & Blois (2023) using 28,000 genome wide SNPs show Peromyscus maniculatus sonoriensis and Peromyscus maniculatus gambelii are either very recently diverged or in the process of diversification and they recommend that they should not yet be raised to distinct species. Here, we treat Peromyscus sonoriensis as a distinct species, as recommended by Bradley et al. (2019) and Greenbaum et. al (2019) and inline with the current consensus of the American Society of Mammalogists' Mammal Diversity Database. The taxonomy of the Peromyscus maniculatus species group may further change in the near future as additional studies are published. The map on the right represents the distribution of Peromyscus sonoriensis according to both Greenbaum et al. (2019) and Bradley et al. (2019). The dark green area represents the distribution according to Greenbaum et al. (2019). The light green shading covers areas that Bradley et al. (2019) included in their distribution map.
Description
From Armstrong et al. (2010): "This is a highly variable mouse, both morphologically (D. Armstrong 1972) and physiologically (Wasserman and Nash 1979). In Colorado, dorsal color ranges from grayish brown to rufous orange to pale buff. The underparts and feet are white. Juveniles are medium gray in color, darker than some adults. The ears are conspicuous but usually shorter than the hindfoot. The tail is distinctly bicolored and obviously shorter than the head and body."
External measurements
Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.
| Part of range | Reference | Total length | Tail length | Hindfoot length | Ear length | Mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Armstrong et al. (2010) | 135–180 | 57–78 | 17–21 | 14–21 | 14–27 |
| Nebraska (north-central) | Johnsgard (2020) | 130–164 | 50–71 | 19–25 | ||
| North Dakota | Seabloom et al. (2020) | 152 | 62 | 18 | 15 | 22 |
| Texas | Schmidly & Bradley (2016) | 170 | 81 | 20 | 18 (12–20) | 15–32 |
Color variation
This section shows some of the color variation present in Peromyscus sonoriensis. The location is provided for reference only. The individual shown does not necessarily represent the only color variant within the local population.
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Colorado, Boulder County -
Colorado, Logan County -
Colorado, Weld County -
Kansas, Riley County -
North Dakota, Stutsman County -
Washington, Skamania County, long-tailed population -
Wyoming, Park County
Skull
From Armstrong et al. (2010): "The maxillary toothrow is usually less than 4 mm long (that of the white-footed mouse is often more than 4 mm)." Additionally, "the zygomatic arches of the white-footed mouse show a slight but distinct bowing compared with the straighter arches in deer mice."
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Dorsal view of the skull of Peromyscus sonoriensis. -
Lateral view of the skull of Peromyscus sonoriensis. -
Ventral view of the skull of Peromyscus sonoriensis. -
Dorsal view of the lower jaw of Peromyscus sonoriensis.
Similar species
Comparison with Peromyscus keeni
From Naughton (2012): "While chromosomally distinct from Deer Mice, there are, unfortunately, no completely reliable physical traits that will distinguish all Keen's Mice from Deer Mice in the field... The following formula using diastema length (the gap between the back of the incisors and front edge of the molars) and tail length separates the two species in the southern part of their range, including Washington State and Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands: 4.4 x length of tail (in mm) + length of mandibular diastema (in mm). Animals with a score of ≥ 436 are Keen's Mice, while those with scores of < 436 are Deer Mice. The efficacy of this formula, when applied to inland and more northerly populations has not yet been assessed, and the formula is ineffective in identifying living animals."
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Peromyscus sonoriensis, long-tailed population in Washington -
Northwestern Deermouse (Peromyscus keeni)
Comparison with Peromyscus labecula
From Bradley et al. (2019) describing P. labecula: "A member of the P. maniculatus species group. Phenotypically resembles other species in terms of size, coloration, and bicolored tail. Averaging smaller than P. sonoriensis and tail shorter (< 75 mm)
Comparison with Peromyscus leucopus
Peromyscus sonoriensis and Peromyscus leucopus are a pair of often co-occurring species that is notoriously difficult to differentiate in the field in certain regions of North America. Generally, Peromyscus sonoriensis has a strongly/sharply bicolored tail and a duller appearance (although it is quite variable), whereas Peromyscus leucopus has a less distinctly bicolored tail and a rich amber-brown appearance. However, these characters should be used with caution. Confidently differentiating these two species may require genetic testing. Peromyscus sonoriensis and P. leucopus can be differentiated in the lab using an AFLP-PCR (genetic) method developed by Tessier et al. (2004). A modified version that is fairly quick and inexpensive is available in the Genetic resources section.
From Armstrong et al. (2010); "The species is sometimes difficult to tell from the white-footed [Peromyscus leucopus] but usually the deer mouse has a shorter skull (greater length less than 27 mmm) and a shorter hindfoot (less than 21 mm), and the tail is more distinctly bicolored."
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Peromyscus sonoriensis -
White-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus leucopus)
Comparison with Peromyscus melanotis
From Álvarez-Castañeda (2005): "Peromyscus melanotis and P. maniculatus [sensu lato] are extremely similar morphologically, causing considerable taxonomic confusion (Avise et al. 1979). No measurement or characteristic can be used consistently to distinguish P. maniculatus [sensu lato] from P. melanotis (Ramírez-Pulido 1969). In areas where P. maniculatus labecula and P. melanotis are sympatric, black tuft on P. melanotis is slightly smaller, braincase is broader and more rounded, interorbital space is narrow, prezygomatic notch is less prominent, auditory bulla is slightly smaller, and rostrum is decidedly longer and more slender than in P. maniculatus labecula (Osgood 1909)."
Taxonomic notes
In 2019, based on mitochondrial DNA, Bradley et al. (2019) and Greenbaum et al. (2019) proposed elevating some of the monophyletic (descended from a common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group) lineages within the P. maniculatus species group to distinct species, in addition to those species already recognized, resulting in at least 9 species within the P. maniculatus species complex. In 2023, Boria & Blois published their analyses using 28,000 genome wide SNPs, showing P. m. sonoriensis and P. m. gambelii are either very recently diverged or in the process of diversification and should not yet be elevated to distinct species.
References
Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T., 2005. Peromyscus melanotis. Mammalian Species, (764), pp.1-4.
Armstrong DM, Fitzgerald JP, Meaney CA. 2010. Mammals of Colorado, Second Edition. Denver (CO, USA): University Press of Colorado.
Boria RA, Blois JL. 2023. Phylogeography within the Peromyscus maniculatus species group: Understanding past distribution of genetic diversity and areas of refugia in western North America. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 180, p.107701.
Bradley R, Francis JQ, Platt II RN, Soniat TJ, Alvarez D, Lindsey L. 2019. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicate evidence for multiple species within Peromyscus maniculatus. Special Publications, Museum of Texas Tech University.
Bradley R, Lindsey L.,2019. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data indicate evidence for multiple species within Peromyscus maniculatus. Special Publications, Museum of Texas Tech University.
Greenbaum IF, Honeycutt RL, Chirhart SE. 2019. Taxonomy and phylogenetics of the Peromyscus maniculatus species group. From field to laboratory: a memorial volume in honor to Robert J. Baker, 71, pp.559-575.
Johnsgard PA. 2020. Wildlife of Nebraska: a natural history. Lincoln (NE, USA): University of Nebraska Press.
Naughton D. 2012. The natural history of Canadian mammals. Toronto (ON, CA): University of Toronto Press.
Schmidly DJ, Bradley RD. 2016. The mammals of Texas. Austin (TX, USA): University of Texas Press.
Seabloom R, Hoganson JW, Jensen WF. 2020. The mammals of North Dakota. Fargo (ND, USA): North Dakota State University Press.