The southern deermouse or southern deer mouse (Peromyscus labecula) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found in the United States and Mexico.

Southern deer mouse
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Peromyscus
Species:
P. labecula
Binomial name
Peromyscus labecula
Elliot, 1903

Taxonomy

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The species was originally thought to be conspecific with the North American deermouse (now eastern deermouse), P. maniculatus, as P. m. labecula, P. m. blandus, and P. m. fulvus. However, later studies found these subspecies together comprise a distinct species from P. maniculatus, and they were split from maniculatus in a study published in 2019 as P. labecula, which was followed by the American Society of Mammalogists.[1][2]

Distribution

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This species is distributed from the Southwestern United States (southern New Mexico and western Texas) south to southern Mexico, in the state of Oaxaca. In the southern portion of its range, it is sympatric with the similar black-eared mouse (P. melanotis).[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Greenbaum, I. F.; et al. (October 2019). "Taxonomy and phylogenetics of the Peromyscus maniculatus species group". Special Publications, Texas Tech University. 71: 559–575.
  2. ^ a b "Peromyscus labecula D. G. Elliot, 1903". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 2021-06-19.