246.

Canyon Deermouse

Peromyscus crinitus

French: Péromyscus des canyons / German: Canyon-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de canones

Other common names: Canyon Mouse

Taxonomy. Hesperomys crinitus Merriam, 1891, Shoshone Falls, north side Snake River, Jerome County, Idaho, USA.

Peromyscus crinitus is in the crinitus species group. Eight subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.c.erinitusMerriam,1891—fromOregonandSIdahoStoCNevadaandasmallportionofCalifornia,USA.

P.c.auripectusJ.A.Allen,1893—fromEUtahandWColoradoStoNEArizonaandNWNewMexico,USA.

P.c.delgadilliBenson,1940—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityandsurroundingareasinNWSonora,Mexico.

P.c.disparilisGoldman,1932—extremeSWArizona,USA,andasmallportionofNWSonora,Mexico.

P.c.douttiGoin,1944—fromextremeSWWyomingSWtoSCUtah,USA.

P.c.pallidissimusHuey,1931—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityonSanLuisGonzagaI,BajaCalifornia,Mexico.

P.c.pergracilisGoldman,1939—NE&CENevadaandNW&CWUtah,USA.

P. c. stephensi Mearns, 1897 — S Nevada, SW Utah, E & SE California, and W Arizona, USA, and NE Baja California, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 73-85 mm, tail 82-118 mm, ear 15-22 mm, hindfoot 18-23 mm; weight 17-24 g. The Canyon Deermouse is smallto medium-sized, with individuals from northern populations being larger than their southern counterparts. Females are almost always larger than males. Dorsum is a mix of ocherous or reddish and black or brown; bases of hairs are plumbeous. Venter is paler to whitish. Hair is long and lax on dorsum and venter. Feet are white, except black in subspecies delgadulli. Tail is generally longer than head-body length and bicolored.

Habitat. Exclusively xeric rocky habitats, such as cliffs, talus slopes, rocky outcrops, and gravelly desert floors from sea level to elevations of ¢.3230 m. Vegetation type appears to have little effect on distribution of Canyon Deermice; they have been captured in associations of pine,fir, blackbrush, aspen, and other woodland species.

Food and Feeding. The Canyon Deermouse appears to be omnivorus, eating seeds, green vegetation,fruits, insects, and in some cases small animals.

Breeding. Canyon Deermice are seasonally polyestrous, with an average of 2-5 litters/ year. Litters have 1-5 young.

Activity patterns. The Canyon Mouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Home ranges of Canyon Mice are 0-35-0-38 ha.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Nevertheless, subspecies pallidissimus is considered threatened by the Mexican government.

Bibliography. Bradley & Mauer (1973), Egoscue (1964), Hall (1981), Hall & Hoffmeister (1942), Johnson (1976), Johnson & Armstrong (1987), MacMillen & Christopher (1974), Morton (1979), Zarza (2014).