Peromyscus melanotis J. A. Allen and Chapman 1897

Peromyscus melanotis J. A. Allen and Chapman 1897, Bull. Am. Mus . Nat. Hist., 9: 203.

Type Locality: México, Veracruz, Las Vigas, 8000 ft (2438 m).

Vernacular Names: Black-eared Deermouse.

Synonyms: Peromyscus cecilii Thomas 1903; Peromyscus zamelas Osgood 1904 .

Distribution: Cordillera Transvolcanica in C México (E Jalisco to C Veracruz), northwards along Sierra Madre Oriental to S Nuevo León and along Sierra Madre Occidental to W Chihuahua; isolated populations in SE Arizona, USA.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: P. maniculatus species group. Genetic, karyotypic, and geographic variation studied by Bowers et al. (1973), who included populations in S Arizona previously identified as P. maniculatus rufinus . However, see Hoffmeister (1986) who disputed their conclusions and maintained all Arizona populations as P. maniculatus . Bowers (1974) discerned no basis for subspecific divisions; geographic and nongeographic variation of populations inhabiting the Cordillera Transvolcanica evaluated by Martínez-Coronel et al. (1991).