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Peruvian Rice Rat Oreoryzomys balneator

It is found in Ecuador and northern Peru in cloud forest at elevations from 1500 to 1800 m.

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#rice rat #rat #rodent #mammal #wildlife #Rodentia #Cricetidae #Sigmodontinae #Oreoryzomys

Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus), family Cricetidae, found over most of Europe and of NW Asia

photograph by Sue Cro

#vole #cricetidae #myodes #rodent #mammal #animals #nature #europe #asia

Bank Vole/Clethrionomys glareolus/skogssork. Värmland, Sweden (1 July 2020).

#bank vole #voles #rodents #cricetidae #arvicolinae

Just a Dear Little Eastern Deer Mouse

The eastern deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) is perhaps the most abundant mammal in North America. Their population is spread throughout the continent, except for the southeastern United States and some coastal areas of Mexico. They are hardy generalists, found in prairies, deciduous and evergreen forests, mountains, deserts, agricultural areas, and urban environments; they are also the only species of deer mouse known to occur in northern boreal forests.

Eastern deer mouse are fairly small, typically 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) long from nose to rump, with the tail adding an additional 4-10 cm (1.3-4 in). Adults weigh between 10 and 24 g (0.3 an 0.8 oz). Most coloration stays between grey and reddish brown, with a white underside. Populations in different habitats vary in size, as well as color; those in prairies tend to be lighter and smaller, while those in forests are darker and heavier. Those in forests also tend to have longer hind legs and tails, and larger ears.

Because of their small size, P. maniculatus is primarily nocturnal. The color of their coat allows them to blend in with their surroundings, avoiding predation from snakes, owls, foxes, coyotes, mustelids, skunks, and bobcats. Eastern deermice themselves are omnivorous; their diet includes insects, seeds, fruits, flowers, nuts, and roots. During the winter, individuals will often store a cache of seeds to feed on.

Although they can reproduce throughout the year, P. maniculatus mainly breeds from March to April. Individuals form small social groups consisting of one male and several females and their pups. Home ranges are fairly small, and several social groups may be found within only a few hundred feet of each other. When its time to mate, females will build a nest with the help of the male. Gestation takes only 22-26 days, and the mother may give birth to up to 5 young. A single female may produce up to 14 litters in a year, although 3-4 is more typical; in the event that she gives birth to a second litter while the first is still weaning, she will push them out of the nest. Weaning occurs at 18 to 24 days old, and young become fully mature at about 48 days old. Individuals typically live up to 4 years in the wild.

Conservation status: The eastern deer mouse has a large and stable population, and is considered Least Concern by the IUCN. Through most of their range they are considered a pest species, both for their consumption of human food products and their ability to be a carrier of diseases such as hantavirus.

Photos

Paul Berghuis

Chris Helzer

Joe Bartok

#eastern deer mouse #Rodentia #Cricetidae #deer mice #mice #rodents #mammals #generalist fauna #generalist mammals #grasslands #grassland mammals #urban fauna #urban mammals #north america #animal facts #biology #zoology #ecology

How about the Common Muskrat? I don't see it on your page yet but they're kind of cute. They're an invasive species where I live but once when we were out camping there was a whole family of them in the riverbed near our tent. (Latin name is Ondatra zibethicus)