Mouse Fur Color

The beach mouse, (Peromyscus polionotus) is a small rodent found in southeastern United States. It lives primarily in old fields and on white sand beaches. There are several sub-species, each having a somewhat unique fur color ranging from dark brown to very light brown, approaching white.

The geography of fur colors is not random. The darkest colored subspecies tend to live inland while the lighter subspecies live on light sand beaches. This case will examine the evolution of light fur in beach mice from the molecular level up to the population genetics level.