Nimble-footed mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nimble-footed mouse |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Neotominae |
| Genus: | Peromyscus |
| Species: |
P. levipes
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| Binomial name | |
| Peromyscus levipes Merriam, 1898
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The nimble-footed mouse (Peromyscus levipes) is a small rodent that lives only in Mexico. It's part of the Cricetidae family, which includes many types of mice and hamsters. This mouse is known for being quick and agile, which is how it got its name!
What Does the Nimble-Footed Mouse Look Like?
The nimble-footed mouse looks like a typical mouse. It's very similar to other mice in its group, the Peromyscus boylii species. Sometimes, scientists need to do special genetic tests to tell them apart!
Most of its fur is a light brown or yellowish-brown color. It has some darker hairs mixed in. Its belly is white or creamy white. You might notice a ring of darker fur around its eyes. Sometimes, this darker fur is also on its nose. There can even be a faint dark line down the middle of its back.
Adult nimble-footed mice are about 18 to 22 cm (7.1 to 8.7 in) long. More than half of this length is its tail! They usually weigh between 20 to 30 g (0.7 to 1 oz). That's about the weight of a few quarters!
Where Do Nimble-Footed Mice Live?
The nimble-footed mouse is found only in Mexico. It lives in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. This mountain range stretches from Nuevo León in the north to Puebla in the south.
These mice prefer rocky places. You can find them near cliffs and creeks. They live inside forests where trees like oak, pine, juniper, or sweet gum grow. They also live in special forests called cloud forests.
Scientists recognize two types, or subspecies, of the nimble-footed mouse:
- P. l. levipes - This type lives in most of the mouse's habitat.
- P. l. ambiguus - This type is found in Nuevo León and western Tamaulipas.
Nimble-Footed Mouse Life and Habits
Nimble-footed mice are herbivores. This means they only eat plants. They are often found in areas with lots of trees. In these places, you might find about 16 to 41 mice in an area the size of a hectare (about 2.5 acres).
Some animals like to eat nimble-footed mice. Known predators include barn owls and mottled owls.
These mice usually have babies two or three times a year. They don't seem to have a special breeding season. This means they can have babies at different times throughout the year.
 | George Robert Carruthers |
 | Patricia Bath |
 | Jan Ernst Matzeliger |
 | Alexander Miles |
