Peromyscus oaxacensis, Merriam, 1898

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 : 393

298.

Oaxacan Deermouse

Peromyscus oaxacensis

French: Péromyscus d’'Oaxaca / German: Oaxaca-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Ratén ciervo de Oaxaca

Taxonomy. Peromyscus oaxacensis Merriam, 1898 , “Cerro San Felipe, Oaxaca, Mexico (alt. 10,000 ft. [= 3048 m]).”

Peromyscus oaxacensisis in the aztecus species group.It is considered by some to be a subspecies of P. aztecus , but DNA data suggest it is a distinct species. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.o.oaxacensisMerriam,1898—fromEOaxaca,Mexico,SEtoWHonduras.

P. o. cordillerae Dickey, 1928 — known only from the type locality and surrounding area in E El Salvador.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 111-135 mm, tail 102-135 mm, ear 16-18 mm, hindfoot 24-29 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. The Oaxacan Deermouse is medium-sized, with rich tawny, dull fulvous, or cinnamon brown dorsum; admixture of black hairs produces prominent mid-dorsal line. Venter is creamy white, with dark hairs at bases. Dusky to black eye-ring is present. Tail is sharply bicolored (dusky to black above and white to whitish below). Skull resembles that of other species such as the Aztec Deermouse ( P. aztecus ).

Habitat. Mesic pine-oak and cloud forests at moderate to high elevations.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Oaxacan Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Carleton (1979), Duplechin & Bradley (2014), Hall (1981), Merriam (1898), Musser & Carleton (2005), Sullivan et al. (1997).

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)

Subspecies and Distribution. P.o.oaxacensisMerriam,1898—fromEOaxaca,Mexico,SEtoWHonduras. P. o. cordillerae Dickey, 1928 — known only from the type locality and surrounding area in E El Salvador.