Calomyscus elburzensis, Goodwin, 1939

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Calomyscidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 144-155 : 154-155

5.

Goodwin's Brush-tailed Mouse

Calomyscus elburzensis

French: Calomysque de I'Elburz / German: Elburs-Maushamster / Spanish: Ratén de cola de cepillo de Goodwin

Other common names: Elburz Vesper Mouse, Goodwin's Calomyscus, Goodwin's Mouse-like Hamster, Goodwin's Mouse-tailed Hamster

Taxonomy. Calomyscus elburzensis Goodwin, 1939 ,

“ Degermatie [= Dergermatie], Kurkhud Mountains , district of Bujnurd, [North Khorasan Province,| Iran; alt. 4000 feet [= 1219 m].”

Calomyscus elburzensis was described as a distinct species differing from C. bailwardi in its smaller size and shorter ears, but subsequent revisions of the genus recognized it as a subspecies of C. bailwardi . In the more comprehensive revision of the genus by N.

N. Vorontsov and colleagues in 1979, it was included within C. mystax but recognized as a distinct species by I. Ya. Pavlinov and O. L. Rossolimo in 1998. M. N. Meyer and V. G. Malikov in 2000 reported three cytotypes from mountains of southern Turkmenistan and associated one with a 2n = 44 and FNa = 46 to C. mystax and associated the other two with a new subspecies (C. m. zykovi) with a 2n = 30 and FNa = 44 and a new species (C. firtusaensis) with a 2n = 44 and FNa = 58. Subsequentrevision of the genus by G. G. Musser and M. D. Carleton in 2005 considered C. firiusaensis and C. m. zykovi as synonyms of C. elburzensis and zykouvi was treated as a subspecies of C. elburzensis by R. W. Norris and colleagues in 2008. Natural hybrids between cytotypes of 2n = 30 (zykovi) and 2n = 44 and FNa = 58 (nominotypical elburzensis ) have been found in the central Kopet Dag Mountains, and these two cytotypes produce viable fertile hybrids in which males are sterile in captivity. Nevertheless, laboratory hybrids of the two 2n = 44 cytotypes of C. mystax and C. elburzensis and between the 2n = 30 and C. mystax produce viable, fertile offspring of both sexes. Multivariate analyses of cranial and dental features cluster the 2n = 44 and FNa = 58 with material from north-eastern Iran but sort the 2n = 30 into a separate group. Six additional karyotypes have been reported to occur among allopatric populations of C. elburzensis , all with 2n = 44 but with FNa of 60-76. Molecular phylogenetic analyses recover C. elburzensis as either the sister taxon of C. grandis orto a clade containing C. grandis , C. mystax , and C. urartensis . These four species consistently are placed in a “northern” clade. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

C.e.elburzensisGoodwin,1939—EAlborz(=Elburz)Mts,C&EKopetDagofNEIranandSTurkmenistan,theBinaludMtsofNEIran,theShirkuhMtsofCIran,andtheTorkestanMtsofNW&WAfghanistan;limitsofdistributionareunresolvedandtheWextremeofthedistributioninYadzProvinceisseparatedfromtheN&EpartsoftherangebyportionsoftheC.e.Desert.

C.e.isatissusAkbarirad,Darvish&Aliabadian,2016—QeidarMts,KarkasMts,andShirkuhMtsinNW&CIran.

C. e. zykovi M. N. Meyer & Malikov, 2000 -W & C Kopet Dag and Small (Little) Balkhan Mts in SW Turkmenistan.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 82-88 mm, tail 84-90 mm, ear 15-20 mm, hindfoot 18-21 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Among the smaller forms of brush-tailed mice, Goodwin’s Brush-tailed Mouse has small ears and relatively short tail. Upperparts buff with hairs that are black at bases and tips; underparts pure white. M, is very slender.

Habitat. Rocky habitats in mountains with Mediterranean spring rains and in some parts cold winters. Typical vegetation of the Kopet Dag region includes juniper ( Juniperus excelsa, Cupressaceae ), dog-rose ( Rosa canina, Rosaceae ) and barberry ( Berberis integerrima, Berberidaceae ). At lower elevation sites, winters are milder, and vegetation is more xeric consisting of pistachio ( Pistacia atlantica, Anacardiaceae ), ephedra ( Ephedra sp. , Ephedraceae ), and sun spurge ( Euphorbia helioscopia, Euphorbiaceae ). In the north-western parts ofits distribution in the Alborz Mountains, habitat has been characterized as rocky outcrops with numerous cracks on steep mountain slopes and steep ridges, with scant vegetation characterized by clumps grass,thistle, and occasionally thorny bushes ( Paliurus aculeatus, Rhamnaceae ).

Food and Feeding. Traces of flowers and seeds of dog-rose and barberry have been found in burrows of Goodwin’s Brush-tailed Mouse in the Kopet Dag region of northeastern Iran. Seeds of pistachio and redstem wormwood ( Artemisia scoparia, Asteraceae ) have been found near burrows at lower elevations.

Breeding. A lactating female Goodwin's Brush-tailed Mouse with four uterine scars was collected in early August, and females collected in November had 2-7 uterine swellings with no visible embryos. Juveniles and subadults have been captured in spring and summer, but more were captured in summer. A nest consisting of a ball of grass lined with sheep wool was found in a horizontal crevice in a rocky outcrop. Earliest pregnancy reported in a three month and 20 days old female but generally occurs at 6-7 months of age. Gestation is 30-31 days. Eyes open on days 13 to 21.

Activity patterns. Goodwin's Brush-tailed Mice are nocturnal and apparently active throughout the year. Individuals have been captured following the first snow falls.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Goodwin’s Brush-tailed Mice are more solitary than some other species of brush-tailed mice and rarely found in large colonies. In captivity, they are aggressive toward congeneric cage mates. Females may become aggressive toward conspecific males if left in a cage too long following mating, sometimes resulting in cannibalism of males.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Akbarirad et al. (2016a, 2016b), Darvish, Siahsarvie et al. (2006), Goodwin (1939), Graphodatsky et al. (2000), Hamidi, Darvish & Matin (2017), Hamidi, Darvish, Matin & Malikov (2015), Lebedev et al. (1998), Malikov et al. (1999), Meyer & Malikov (1995, 1996, 2000), Musser & Carleton (2005), Mohammadi et al. (2013), Norris et al. (2008), Pavlinov & Rossolimo (1998), Shahabi et al. (2011), Vorontsov et al. (1979), Zarei et al. (2013).

Figures

1. Zagros Mountains Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus bailwardi), 2. Hotson’s Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus hotsoni), 3. Pakistan Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus baluchi), 4. Great Balkhan Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus mystax), 5. Goodwin's Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus elburzensis), 6. Noble Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus grands), 7. Urar Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus urartensis), 8. Syrian Brush-tailed Mouse (Calomyscus tsolovi)

Subspecies and Distribution. C.e.elburzensisGoodwin,1939—EAlborz(=Elburz)Mts,C&EKopetDagofNEIranandSTurkmenistan,theBinaludMtsofNEIran,theShirkuhMtsofCIran,andtheTorkestanMtsofNW&WAfghanistan;limitsofdistributionareunresolvedandtheWextremeofthedistributioninYadzProvinceisseparatedfromtheN&EpartsoftherangebyportionsoftheC.e.Desert. C.e.isatissusAkbarirad,Darvish&Aliabadian,2016—QeidarMts,KarkasMts,andShirkuhMtsinNW&CIran. C. e. zykovi M. N. Meyer & Malikov, 2000 -W & C Kopet Dag and Small (Little) Balkhan Mts in SW Turkmenistan.