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A yellow-necked mouse is a small rodent species found in Europe and parts of Asia, recognizable by the distinctive yellowish patch on its chest and neck. It matters because it can become a significant agricultural pest, damaging crops and stored grain, and also serves as a carrier of diseases that can affect humans and livestock.
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The yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), also called yellow-necked field mouse or yellow-necked wood mouse, is closely related to the wood mouse, with which it was long confused. It was only recognised as a separate species in 1894. It differs in its band of yellow fur around the neck and in having slightly larger ears and usually being slightly larger overall. Around 100 mm in length, it can climb trees and sometimes overwinters in houses. It is found mostly in mountainous areas of southern Europe, but extends north into parts of Scandinavia and Britain. It facilitates the spread of tick-borne encephalitis to humans and is a reservoir species for the Dobrava virus, a hantavirus that is responsible for causing haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
Taxonomy