California deermouse
| California deermouse | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Neotominae |
| Genus: | Peromyscus |
| Species: | P. californicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Peromyscus californicus (Gambel, 1848) | |
| range in California, United States | |
The California deermouse or California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) is a species of rodent in the subfamily Neotominae in the family Cricetidae. It is a species of the genus Peromyscus, a closely related group of New World mice often called "deermice", and the only in the Peromyscus californicus species group. It is found in northwestern Mexico and central to southern California. It is the largest Peromyscus species in the United States.
While most rodents are polygamous, the California deermouse is monogamous and forms pair bonds, making it a model organism for researchers studying the genetics and neurobiology of partner fidelity and paternal care.