213.

Yellow Deermouse

Isthmomys flavidus

French: Péromyscus jaune / German: Gelbe Isthmusratte / Spanish: Ratén ciervo dorado

Other common names: Yellow Isthmus Rat

Taxonomy. Megantontomys flavidus Bangs, 1902, Boquete, 4000 ft (= 1219 m), Volcan de Chiriqui, Chiriqui Province, Panama.

Isthmomys was initially described with flavidus as its type species, but it later used as subgenus under Peromyscus . Recent evidence suggests that Isthmomys is sister to Reithrodontomys instead of Peromyscus, validating its status as a genus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Chiriqui Volcano and surrounding regions and Azuero Peninsula (W & S Panama).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 165-170 mm, tail 155-205 mm, ear 20-24 mm, hindfoot 31-33 mm; weight 43-57 g. The Yellow Deermouse is a Neotoma-sized, Peromyscus like rodent. Dorsum is rich ocherous, and venter is pale yellowish white. Forefeet are white, and hindfeet are white, with brownish hairs to toes. Skull is heavily beaded, and M' possesses six cusps. The Yellow Deermouse differs from the Mount Pirri Deermouse (1. pirrensis) in being paler in color and having smaller hindfoot and shorter and more robust skull.

Habitat. Old growth forests at elevations of 914-1524 m in the Serrania de Tabasara mountain range of the Cordillera Central.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Yellow Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Bangs (1902), Carleton (1980, 1989), Hall (1981), Handley (1966), Osgood (1909), Platt et al. (2015).