Big-eared Woodrat
Encyclopedia
The Big-eared Woodrat is a species of rodent
in the family Cricetidae
. A study of the species found that the "Bear Canyon" virus, traditionally associated with the California mouse
, is actually passed by the Big-eared Woodrat before host-jumping to the California mouse.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the family Cricetidae
Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, and New World rats and mice...
. A study of the species found that the "Bear Canyon" virus, traditionally associated with the California mouse
California Mouse
The California Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is the only species in the Peromyscus californicus species group. It is found in north-western Mexico and central to southern California...
, is actually passed by the Big-eared Woodrat before host-jumping to the California mouse.