220.

Mexican Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys mexicanus

French: Souris-moissonneuse du Mexigue / German: Mexiko-Erntemaus / Spanish: Raton espiguero de México

Taxonomy. Reithrodon mexicanus Saussure, 1860, “les montagnes [= mountains] de la province de Véra-Cruz,” Mexico. Fixed by E. T. Hooper in 1952 “at Mirador, Veracuz,” Mexico .

Reithrodontomys mexicanus cherrii and R. m. garichensis are now recognized as distinct species. Furthermore, R. m. potrerograndei is recognized as subjective synonym of R. brevirostris . Reithrodontomys mexicanus 1s in subgenus Aporodon. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, E. Arellano in 2015 concluded that South American subspecies are aligned with R. dariensis, not R. mexicanus, a hypothesis that makes biogeographic sense. Ten subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

R.m.mexicanusSaussure,1860—fromSTamaulipasStoOaxacastates(E&SMexico). R.m.eremicusHershkovitz,1941—ValledelChota(NEcuador).

R.m.howelliGoodwin,1932—fromCChiapasState(SMexico)SEthroughGuatemalatoHonduras.

R.m.lucifronsA.H.Howell,1932—SWHondurasandNWNicaragua.

R.m.miller].A.Allen,1912—WColombiaandNWEcuador.

R.m.ocotepequensisGoodwin,1937—WHonduras.

R.m.orinusHooper,1949—SGuatemalaandElSalvador.

R.m.ripariusHooper,1955—fromSWMichoacanSEtoOaxacastates(SMexico).

R.m.scansorHooper,1950—SEOaxacaandNWChiapasstates(SEMexico).

R. m. soederstroem: Thomas, 1898 — N Ecuador.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 60-80 mm, tail 90-115 mm, ear 12-18 mm, hindfoot 17-21 mm; weight 19 g. The Mexican Harvest Mouse is a relatively large species of Reithrodontomys . Dorsum varies from tawny or yellow-brown to orange-brown and ocherous, but wide variation in pelage color occurs among subspecies. Venter varies from creamy white to light cinnamon or cinnamon orange. Tail is uniformly dark above and below.

Habitat. Pine ( Pinus, Pinaceae) and oak ( Quercus, Fagaceae), cloud, and tropical deciduous forests at elevations of 90-1800 m. In arid areas, Mexican Harvest Mice occur in riparian habitats, especially where fig (Fiscus, Moraceae) and other trees are found. Local distribution may be limited by availabilities of shrubby cover, grasses, and other elements of herbaceous stratum. In Chiapas, Mexican Harvest Mice have been captured on flowering coral tree ( Erythrina sp., Fabaceae) trees.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Breeding season occurs in June-August. Litters have 3-5 young.

Activity patterns. The Mexican Harvest Mouse is nocturnal and arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Arellano (2015), Arellano et al. (2005), Brito & Batallas (2014), Chavez (2012), Gardner & Carleton (2009), Goodwin (1932b, 1937 1969), Hall (1981), Hooper (1949, 1950, 1952a, 1955), Howell (1932), Jones & Genoways (1970), Moreno & Roman (2013), Sanchez (1993), Sanchez & Oliva (2014b), de Saussure (1860).