Description
Mexican deer mice are moderately sized mouse-like animals with narrow, slightly elongated, heads and long tails. They have a combined head and body length of 9 to 12 centimetres (3.5 to 4.7 in), and a tail 10 to 13 centimetres (3.9 to 5.1 in) long.
The fur is soft, short, and generally rufous or russet in color. However, the general body color varies with geographic location, and with the time of year, being generally paler in drier climates or during dry seasons. At the extremes, it may vary from nearly black to pale grey.
The underparts and feet are creamy white, with brown or rufous fur on the upper parts of the limbs. There is a patch of almost blackish fur at the base of the whiskers, and a dark ring around the eyes. The fur on the tail is sparse and very short, making it almost invisible on casual examination; a feature that distinguishes the Mexican deer mouse from almost all other species of Peromyscus.
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