Peromyscus polius, Osgood, 1904

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 395

305.

Chihuahuan Deermouse

Peromyscus polius

French: Péromyscus du Chihuahua / German: Chihuahua-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de Chihuahua

Other common names: Chihuahuan Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus polius Osgood, 1904 , “Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico.”

It has been difficult to assign P. polius to a specific species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. WC Chihuahua, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 99-114 mm, tail 111-120 mm, ear 17-19 mm, hindfoot 25-26 mm; weight 22-36 g. The Chihuahuan Deermouse is mediumto large-sized, with pinkish buff dorsum, mixed with dusky, producing overall brown appearance. Sides have pinkish lateral line. Venter is white. Tail is bicolored (brown above and whitish below) and as long as or longer than head-body length. The Chihuahuan Deermouse is morphologically similar to the Brush Deermouse (FP. boyliz) but larger in size.

Habitat. Xeric scrublands, pine-oak forests, and grasslands typically at elevations of 2110-2720 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Chihuahuan Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Anderson (1972), Castro-Arellano (2014d), Hall (1981), Musser & Carleton (2005), Osgood (1904).

Figures

284. Blackish Deermouse (Peromyscus furvus), 285. Wide-rostrum Deermouse (Peromyscus latirostris), 286. Michoacan Deermouse (Peromyscus sagax), 287. Tres Marias Deermouse (Peromyscus madrenss), 288. San Esteban Deermouse (Peromyscus stephani), 289. Sinaloan Deermouse (Peromyscus simulus), 290. Brush Deermouse (Peromyscus boylu), 291. Durango Deermouse (Peromyscus schmidly), 292. Nimble-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus levipes), 293. Carleton’s Deermouse (Peromyscus carletoni), 294. Kilpatrick's Deermouse (Peromyscus kilpatricki), 295. Orizaba Deermouse (Peromyscus beatae), 296. Gleaning Deermouse (Peromyscus spicilegus), 297. Coalcoman Deermouse (Peromyscus winkelmanni), 298. Oaxacan Deermouse (Peromyscus oaxacensis), 299. Transvolcanic Deermouse (Peromyscus hylocetes), 300. Aztec Deermouse (Peromyscus aztecus), 301. Northern White-ankled Deermouse (Peromyscus laceianus), 302. Southern White-ankled Deermouse (Peromyscus pectoralis), 303. Saxicoline Deermouse (Peromyscus gratus), 304. El Carrizo Deermouse (Peromyscus ochraventer), 305. Chihuahuan Deermouse (Peromyscus polius), 306. Pinyon Deermouse (Peromyscus true), 307. Texas Deermouse (Peromyscus attwateri), 308. Northern Rock Deermouse (Peromyscus nasutus), 309. Southern Rock Deermouse (Peromyscus difficilis), 310. Perote Deermouse (Peromyscus bullatus), 312. Oaxacan Big-toothed Deermouse (Megadontomys cryophilus), 313. Nelson's Big-toothed Deermouse (Megadontomys nelsoni), 314. Xico Deermouse (Habromys simulatus), 315. Delicate Deermouse (Habromys delicatulus), 316. Schmidly’s Deermouse (Habromys schmidlyi), 317. Ixtlan Deermouse (Habromys ixtlani), 318. Chinanteco Deermouse (Habromys chinanteco), 319. Zempoaltepec Deermouse (Habromys lepturus), 320. Crested-tailed Deermouse (Habromys lophurus)

Distribution. WC Chihuahua, Mexico.