Peromyscus zarhynchus Merriam 1898

Peromyscus zarhynchus Merriam 1898, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 12: 117.

Type Locality: México, Chiapas, mountains above Tumbalá, 5500 ft (1076 m).

Vernacular Names: Chiapan Deermouse.

Synonyms: Peromyscus cristobalensis Merriam 1898 .

Distribution: Middle to high elevation cloud forest, 1000-2900 m, in C and SE Chiapas, México.

Conservation: IUCN – Vulnerable.

Discussion: P. mexicanus species group. Distribution and morphological variation reviewed by Huckaby (1980). Allozymic (Rogers and Engstrom, 1992) and chromosomal (Smith et al., 1986) comparisons convey little differentiation of P. zarhynchus from other members of the mexicanus group. The recent report (Horath and Navarrete-Gutierrez, 1997) of P. zarhynchus from SE Chiapas, near the range of P. guatemalensis, invites additional study of their relationship and taxonomic status. See McClellan and Rogers (1997, Mammalian Species, 562).