Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large dark mouse of the southeastern United States: "Cotton mouse" refers to a specific species of rodent (Peromyscus gossypinus) characterized by its relatively large size and dark fur, native to the southeastern region of the United States.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The biologist studied the habitat of the cotton mouse in the Florida wetlands.
  • We set up traps to monitor the local cotton mouse population.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific context: The term is primarily used in biological, ecological, and zoological contexts to refer to this specific species.
  • The research paper compared the foraging behavior of the cotton mouse to that of the white-footed mouse.

Variants and Related Words

• Peromyscus gossypinus (n): The scientific binomial name for the cotton mouse.
• Rodent (n): The broader biological order to which the cotton mouse belongs.

Synonyms

• Southeastern deer mouse: An alternative common name sometimes used for this species.

Noun

1. large dark mouse of southeastern United States