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).