318.

Chinanteco Deermouse

Habromys chinanteco

French: Habromys chinantéque / German: Chinanteco-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Ratén ciervo de los Chinanteco

Other common names: Chinanteco Crested-tail Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus chinanteco Robertson & Musser, 1976, “north slope Cerro Pelon, 31- 6 km S Vista Hermosa, 2650 m, Oaxaca,” Mexico.

Two recent revisions of Habromys by M. D. Carleton and colleagues in 2002 and D. S. Rogers and colleagues in 2007 concluded that H. chinanteco was very close to and possibly conspecific with H. simulatus . L. Leon-Paniagua and colleagues in 2007 found a closer phylogenetic relationship between H. lepturus and H. chinanteco than between H. simulatus and H. chinanteco, based on molecular evidence. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from Cerro Pelon, Sierra Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 90-93 mm, tail 110-118 mm, ear 17-18 mm, hindfoot 23-24 mm; weight 17-22 g. The Chinanteco Deermouse is a medium-sized Habromys, dorsum is grayish brown, venter is grayish white, and side lines are well-marked. Ears are blackish, toes are white, and tarsal region on hindfoot is dark. Tail is unicolored and covered with long brownish gray hair, and tip is brush-like.

Habitat. Cloud forests and pine-oak forests at elevations of 2000-2650 m. The Chinanteco Deermouse is found in restricted dense underbush with high humidity.

Food and Feeding. The Chinanteco Deermouse is probably omnivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Chinanteco Deermice are nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCNRed List.

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castaneda, Castro-Arellano, Lacher & Vazquez (2008d), Briones-Salas et al. (2012), Burt & Stirton (1961), Carleton (1980, 1989), Carleton & Huckaby (1975), Carleton & Musser (1984, 1995), Carleton etal. (2002), Hooper & Musser (1964b), Ledn-Paniagua & Romo (2014a), Ledn-Paniagua et al. (2007), Musser (1969a), Musser & Carleton (1993, 2005), Robertson & Musser (1976), Rogers etal. (2007), Sanchez-Cordero et al. (2005).