Reithrodontomys gracilis (J. A. Allen & F. M. Chapman, 1897)

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 : 368

219.

Slender Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys gracilis

French: Souris-moissonneuse gracile / German: Zierliche Erntemaus / Spanish: Raton espiguero esbelto

Taxonomy. Reithrodontomys mexicanus gracilis J. A. Allen & F. M. Chapman, 1897 , Chichén-Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.

Reithrodontomys gracilis is in subgenus Aporodon. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

R. g. gracilis J. A. Allen & F. M. Chapman, 1897 — Yucatan Peninsula (SE Mexico, Belize, and N Guatemala).

R.g.anthony:Goodwin,1932—CGuatemala,SWHonduras,andmostofElSalvador.

R.g.harrisiGoodwin,1945—fromextremeSHondurasStoNWCostaRica.

R.g.insularisJ.K.Jones,1964—knownonlyfromIsladelCarmen,CampecheState,SEMexico.

R. g. pacificus Goodwin, 1932 — Pacific coastal area of SE Mexico (Chiapas State), S Guatemala, and SW El Salvador.

Descriptive notes. Head—body ¢.76-78 mm, tail 87-107 mm, ear 13-16 mm, hindfoot 17-20 mm; weight 10-11 g. The Slender Harvest Mouse is small, with slender, scantily haired, bicolored tail, 97-155% of head-body length. Dorsal pelage is short, cinnamon-pink to shinny ocherous brown, and grizzled in appearance. Venter is white to bright orange-cinnamon. Soles and backs of feet are generally white but can be dusky. Ears are darker than body and sparsely haired.

Habitat. Tropical deciduous and pine ( Pinus , Pinaceae ) forests, perennial forests, thorn forests, xeric forests, and coconut and coffee plantations from sea level to elevations of 1370 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Breeding season can extend from the beginning of winter through midautumn. Pregnant females have been captured in the Yucatan and del Carmen Islands in July-August and scrotal males in April, June, and July. In Central America, females with embryos have been collected in March, June, and July.

Activity patterns. The Slender Harvest Mouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Allen & Chapman (1897b), Anderson & Jones (1960), Burt & Stirton (1961), Goodwin (1932b, 1945, 1946), Hall (1981), Hooper (1952a), Jones (1964), Jones & Genoways (1970), Sanchez (1993), Téllez & Sanchez (2014a), Young & Jones (1984).

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. g. gracilis J. A. Allen & F. M. Chapman, 1897 — Yucatan Peninsula (SE Mexico, Belize, and N Guatemala). R.g.anthony:Goodwin,1932—CGuatemala,SWHonduras,andmostofElSalvador. R.g.harrisiGoodwin,1945—fromextremeSHondurasStoNWCostaRica. R.g.insularisJ.K.Jones,1964—knownonlyfromIsladelCarmen,CampecheState,SEMexico. R. g. pacificus Goodwin, 1932 — Pacific coastal area of SE Mexico (Chiapas State), S Guatemala, and SW El Salvador.