279.

Gardner’s Deermouse

Peromyscus gardneri

French: Péromyscus de Gardner / German: Gardner-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Ratén ciervo de Gardner

Taxonomy. Peromyscus gardneri Lorenzo a dl, 2016, “Finca Ixcansin, 10- 3 km E (por carretera) Aldea Yalambojoch, San Mateo Ixtatan, Huehuetenango, 1647 m, 16-00614 N, 91-49988 W,” Guatemala.

Peromyscus gardneri is in the mexicanus species group. It was recognized during revision of P. zarhynchus in which populations in Guatemala were assigned to P. gardneri . Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from six midelevation sites along the N slope of Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, CW Guatemala.

Descriptive notes. Head-body c.145-147 mm, tail 129-180 mm, ear 23-27 mm, hindfoot 30-35 mm. No specific data are available for body weight. Gardner’s Deermouse is mediumto large-sized, with dark brown to gray dorsum and dark and wide mid-dorsal stripe. Venter has gray and white patches, with orangish pectoral patch in some individuals. Tailis slightly darker above with blotches on ventral surface. It is characterized by large body, large ears, long tail, and moderately long hindfeet; it has a long skull. It differs from other members of the mexicanus species group by lacking prominent supraorbital ridges. Gardner’s Deermouse is smaller in size but has larger ears than the Chiapan Deermouse (PF. zarhynchus).

Habitat. Likely mid-elevation pine forests at 1000-17000 m of elevation in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes. Gardner’s Deermouse is probably limited to the south by cold pine and pine-oak forests, to the west by lowland warm tropical rainforest, and to the east by the large canyon of the Rio Ixcan. Northern limits along the Mexico-Guatemala border are less certain.

Food and Feeding. Gardner’s Deermouse eats plant material, fruits, seeds, orthopterans, and coleopterians.

Breeding. Gardner’s Deerouse is thought to reproduce in autumn.

Activity patterns. Gardner’s Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red Lust.

Bibliography. Lorenzo et al. (2016).