231.

Fulvous Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys fulvescens

French: Souris-moissonneuse fauve / German: Gelbliche Erntemaus / Spanish: Raton espiguero leonado

Taxonomy. Reithrodontomys mexicanus fulvescensJ. A. Allen, 1894, Oposura, 2000 ft (= 610 m), Sonora, Mexico.

Reithrodontomys fulvescens is in subgenus Reithrodontomys . Seventeen subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

R. f fulvescens J. A. Allen, 1894 — SE Arnizona (SW USA) and NE Sonora State (NW Mexico).

R.f.amoenusElliot,1905—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityinReforma,Oaxaca(SMexico).

R.f.awrantiusJ.A.Allen,1895—fromSEKansasandSWMissouriSintoTexas,Louisiana,andMississippi(USA).

R.f.canusBenson,1939—SWTexas(USA)andNCMexico.

R.f.chiapensisA.H.Howell,1914—fromChiapasState(SEMexico)SEtoHonduras.

R.f.difficilisMerriam,1901—WCVeracruz,EHidalgo,andPueblastates(ECMexico).

R.f.griseoflavusMerriam,1901—CMexico.

R.f.helvolusMerriam,1901—EGuerreroandOaxacastates(SMexico).

R.f.infernatisHooper,1950—SedgeofPueblaandNOaxacastates(SMexico).

R.f.intermediusJ.A.Allen,1895—STexas(USA)andNEMexico.

R.f.laceyi].A.Allen,1896—CTexas(SUSA).

R. f. menidionalis S. Anderson &J. K. Jones, 1960 — W Nicaragua.

R.f.mustelinusA.H.Howell,1914—fromSMichoacanSEtoSOaxaca(SMexico).

R.f.nelsoniA.H.Howell,1914—ColimaandWedgeofJalisco(WMexico).

R.f.tenuis].A.Allen,1899—SSonoraandChihuahuaStoNayaritstates(WMexico).

R.f.toltecusMerriam,1901—portionsofQuerétaro,Hidalgo,México,andMichoacanstates(ECMexico).

R. f. tropicalis Davis, 1944 — from S Tamaulipas S to C Veracruz states (E Mexico).

Descriptive notes. Head—body 62-84 mm,tail 72-116 mm, ear 11-17 mm, hindfoot 16-22 mm; weight 8-12 g. The Fulvous Harvest Mouse is small, with relatively long tail.

Dorsum has a mix of reddish brown and black hairs, producing grizzled or salt-andpepper appearance. Venter is pale to whitish. Pelage along sides is often ocherous. Tail is generally paler underneath and dark above. Rostrum is robust, and braincase is elongated.

Habitat. Moderately dry forested areas of pine ( Pinus, Pinaceae) and oak ( Quercus, Fagaceae) or mesquite ( Prosopis, Fabaceae), deciduous forests, thorn scrublands, grasslands, xeric shrublands, and less commonly tropical forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.2600 m. Generally, Fulvous Harvest Mice occupy ecotones of grasslands and rocky outcrops with patches of scrub or wooded areas that provide protection.

Food and Feeding. The Fulvous Harvest Mouse is omnivorous. During rainy season, diets can be almost 90% invertebrates, but during remainder of the year, seeds are the most significant parts of diets.

Breeding. Fulvous Harvest Mice can reproduce throughout the year. Gestation is ¢.22 days, and generally at least two litters are produced annually. Litters have 2-8 young (average three). They construct spherical nests of grass, placed several inches below soil surface. Young are altricial at birth and are weaned at c.15 days old.

Activity patterns. The Fulvous Harvest Mouse is semi-arboreal and thoughtto be strictly nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In central Mexico, average density of the Fulvous Harvest Mouse is 0-6 ind/ha.

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

Bibliography. Allen (1894b, 1895a, 1896, 1899a), Anderson & Jones (1960), Benson (1939), Cameron et al. (1979), Ceballos & Miranda (2000), Chavez (1993), Davis, W.B. (1944), Elliot (1905), Hall (1981), Hooper (1950, 1952a), Howell (1914), Kincaid (1975), Merriam (1901b), Packard (1968), Petersen (1978), Sanchez (1993), Sanchez & Oliva (2014a), Spencer & Cameron (1982), Svihla (1930).