The
yellow-necked mouse (
Apodemus flavicollis), also called
yellow-necked field mouse,
yellow-necked wood mouse, and
South China field 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.