Reithrodontomys fulvescens (J. A. Allen, 1894)

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 : 370-371

231.

Fulvous Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys fulvescens

French: Souris-moissonneuse fauve / German: Gelbliche Erntemaus / Spanish: Raton espiguero leonado

Taxonomy. Reithrodontomys mexicanus fulvescensJ. A. Allen, 1894 , Oposura, 2000 ft (= 610 m), Sonora, Mexico.

Reithrodontomys fulvescens is in subgenus Reithrodontomys . Seventeen subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

R. f fulvescens J. A. Allen, 1894 — SE Arnizona (SW USA) and NE Sonora State (NW Mexico).

R.f.amoenusElliot,1905—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityinReforma,Oaxaca(SMexico).

R.f.awrantiusJ.A.Allen,1895—fromSEKansasandSWMissouriSintoTexas,Louisiana,andMississippi(USA).

R.f.canusBenson,1939—SWTexas(USA)andNCMexico.

R.f.chiapensisA.H.Howell,1914—fromChiapasState(SEMexico)SEtoHonduras.

R.f.difficilisMerriam,1901—WCVeracruz,EHidalgo,andPueblastates(ECMexico).

R.f.griseoflavusMerriam,1901—CMexico.

R.f.helvolusMerriam,1901—EGuerreroandOaxacastates(SMexico).

R.f.infernatisHooper,1950—SedgeofPueblaandNOaxacastates(SMexico).

R.f.intermediusJ.A.Allen,1895—STexas(USA)andNEMexico.

R.f.laceyi].A.Allen,1896—CTexas(SUSA).

R. f. menidionalis S. Anderson &J. K. Jones, 1960 — W Nicaragua.

R.f.mustelinusA.H.Howell,1914—fromSMichoacanSEtoSOaxaca(SMexico).

R.f.nelsoniA.H.Howell,1914—ColimaandWedgeofJalisco(WMexico).

R.f.tenuis].A.Allen,1899—SSonoraandChihuahuaStoNayaritstates(WMexico).

R.f.toltecusMerriam,1901—portionsofQuerétaro,Hidalgo,México,andMichoacanstates(ECMexico).

R. f. tropicalis Davis, 1944 — from S Tamaulipas S to C Veracruz states (E Mexico).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 62-84 mm,tail 72-116 mm, ear 11-17 mm, hindfoot 16-22 mm; weight 8-12 g. The Fulvous Harvest Mouse is small, with relatively long tail.

Dorsum has a mix of reddish brown and black hairs, producing grizzled or salt-andpepper appearance. Venter is pale to whitish. Pelage along sides is often ocherous. Tail is generally paler underneath and dark above. Rostrum is robust, and braincase is elongated.

Habitat. Moderately dry forested areas of pine ( Pinus , Pinaceae ) and oak ( Quercus , Fagaceae ) or mesquite ( Prosopis , Fabaceae ), deciduous forests, thorn scrublands, grasslands, xeric shrublands, and less commonly tropical forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.2600 m. Generally, Fulvous Harvest Mice occupy ecotones of grasslands and rocky outcrops with patches of scrub or wooded areas that provide protection.

Food and Feeding. The Fulvous Harvest Mouse is omnivorous. During rainy season, diets can be almost 90% invertebrates, but during remainder of the year, seeds are the most significant parts of diets.

Breeding. Fulvous Harvest Mice can reproduce throughout the year. Gestation is ¢.22 days, and generally at least two litters are produced annually. Litters have 2-8 young (average three). They construct spherical nests of grass, placed several inches below soil surface. Young are altricial at birth and are weaned at c.15 days old.

Activity patterns. The Fulvous Harvest Mouse is semi-arboreal and thoughtto be strictly nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In central Mexico, average density of the Fulvous Harvest Mouse is 0-6 ind/ha.

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

Bibliography. Allen (1894b, 1895a, 1896, 1899a), Anderson & Jones (1960), Benson (1939), Cameron et al. (1979), Ceballos & Miranda (2000), Chavez (1993), Davis, W.B. (1944), Elliot (1905), Hall (1981), Hooper (1950, 1952a), Howell (1914), Kincaid (1975), Merriam (1901b), Packard (1968), Petersen (1978), Sanchez (1993), Sanchez & Oliva (2014a), Spencer & Cameron (1982), Svihla (1930).

Figures

208. Golden Mouse (Ochrotomys nuttalli), 209. Southern Pygmy Mouse (Baiomys musculus), 210. Northern Pygmy Mouse (Baiomys taylori), 211. Short-tailed Singing Mouse (Scotinomys teguina), 212. Long-tailed Singing Mouse (Scotinomys xerampelinus), 213. Yellow Deermouse (Isthmomys flavidus), 214. Mount Pirr 1 Deermouse (Isthmomys pirrensis), 215. Florida Deermouse (Podomys floridanus), 216. Volcano Deermouse (Neotomodon alstoni), 217. Short-nosed Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys brevirostris), 218. Darien Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys darienensis), 219. Slender Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys gracilis), 220. Mexican Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys mexicanus), 221. Nicaraguan Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys paradoxus), 222. Cozumel Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys spectabilis), 223. Talamancan Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys creper), 224. Rodriguez's Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys rodriguez), 225. Narrow-nosed Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys tenuirostris), 226. Small-toothed Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys microdon), 227. Costa Rican Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys cherrii), 228. Chiriquian Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys garichensis), 229. Musser’s Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys musser), 230. Baker’s Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys baker), 231. Fulvous Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys fulvescens), 232. Hairy Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys hirsutus), 233. Sonoran Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys burt), 234. Volcano Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys chrysopsis), 235. Eastern Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis), 236. Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), 237. Plains Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys montanus), 238. Salt-marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), 239. Sumichrast’s Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys sumichrasti), 240. Zacatecan Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys zacatecae), 242. Northern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), 243. Southern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys torridus), 244. Osgood’s Deermouse (Osgoodomys banderanus)

Subspecies and Distribution. R. f fulvescens J. A. Allen, 1894 — SE Arnizona (SW USA) and NE Sonora State (NW Mexico). R.f.amoenusElliot,1905—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityinReforma,Oaxaca(SMexico). R.f.awrantiusJ.A.Allen,1895—fromSEKansasandSWMissouriSintoTexas,Louisiana,andMississippi(USA). R.f.canusBenson,1939—SWTexas(USA)andNCMexico. R.f.chiapensisA.H.Howell,1914—fromChiapasState(SEMexico)SEtoHonduras. R.f.difficilisMerriam,1901—WCVeracruz,EHidalgo,andPueblastates(ECMexico). R.f.griseoflavusMerriam,1901—CMexico. R.f.helvolusMerriam,1901—EGuerreroandOaxacastates(SMexico). R.f.infernatisHooper,1950—SedgeofPueblaandNOaxacastates(SMexico). R.f.intermediusJ.A.Allen,1895—STexas(USA)andNEMexico. R.f.laceyi].A.Allen,1896—CTexas(SUSA). R. f. menidionalis S. Anderson &J. K. Jones, 1960 — W Nicaragua. R.f.mustelinusA.H.Howell,1914—fromSMichoacanSEtoSOaxaca(SMexico). R.f.nelsoniA.H.Howell,1914—ColimaandWedgeofJalisco(WMexico). R.f.tenuis].A.Allen,1899—SSonoraandChihuahuaStoNayaritstates(WMexico). R.f.toltecusMerriam,1901—portionsofQuerétaro,Hidalgo,México,andMichoacanstates(ECMexico). R. f. tropicalis Davis, 1944 — from S Tamaulipas S to C Veracruz states (E Mexico).