218.

Darien Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys darienensis

French: Souris-moissonneuse du Darien / German: Darien-Erntemaus / Spanish: Raton espiguero de Darién

Taxonomy. Reithrodontomys darienensis Pearson, 1939, upper Rio Tuyra, Santa Cruz de Cana, 2000 ft. (= 610 m), upper Rio Tuyra, Darién, Panama.

Reithrodontomys darienensis is in subgenus Aporodon. Monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted to E Panama.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.62-65 mm, tail 100-112 mm, ear 14-15 mm, hindfoot 17-19 mm; weight 10 g. The Darien Har vest Mouse is medium-sized. Dorsum is pale brown, with peppered or streaked pattern. Venter varies from white to orangecinnamon. Tail is long compared to that of the Slender Harvest Mouse ( R. gracilis). Rastrum and braincase are shorter than in the Slender Harvest Mouse.

Habitat. Lowland tropical deciduous forests with dense stands of oaks ( Quercus, Fagaceae) interspersed with shrubs and grasses up to elevations of ¢.900 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Darien Harvest Mouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Hall (1981), Hooper (1952a), Pearson (1939).