197.

Mexican Woodrat

Neotoma mexicana

French: Néotoma du Mexique / German: Mexiko-Buschratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de México

Taxonomy. Neotoma mexicana Baird, 1855, mountains near Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Taxonomic revisions of N. mexicana resulted in recognition of N. ferruginae and N. picta as distinct species. Widely used subspecific name navus has been changed for gender agreement. Nineteen subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N.m.mexicanaBaird,1855—SEArizona,SNewMexico,andCWTexas(SWUSA)SintoNW&NCMexico.

N.m.atrataBurt,1939—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityinSCNewMexico(SWUSA).

N.m.bullataMerriam,1894—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityintheSantaCatalinaMtsofSArizona(SWUSA).

N.m.distinctaBangs,1903—knownonlyfromtypelocalityinWCVeracruzState(EMexico).

N.m.eremitaHall,1955—SWNayaritandNWJaliscostates(WMexico).

N.m.fallaxMerriam,1894—CColorado(WUSA).

N.m.griseoventerDalquest,1951—ESanLuisPotosiState(WMexico).

N.m.inopinataGoldman,1933—SEUtah,SWColorado,NEArizona,andNWNewMexico(WUSA).

N. m. imornata Goldman, 1938 — extreme E Chihuahua and W Coahuila states (NC Mexico).

N.m.navaMerriam,1903—NCMexico.

N.m.ochraceaGoldman,1905—knownonlyfromthetypelocalityinSCJaliscoState(WMexico).

N.m.parvidensGoldman,1904—SEGuerreroandSOaxacastates(SMexico).

N.m.pinetorumMerriam,1893—C&EArizonaandWNewMexico(SWUSA).

N.m.scopulorumFinley,1953—SEColorado,extremeWOklahomaPanhandle,andmostofNewMexico(SWUSA).

N.m.sinaloaeJ.A.Allen,1898—SESonora,Sinaloa,extremeWDurango,andNNayarit(NWMexico).

N.m.solitariaGoldman,1905—extremeCEGuatemalaandWHonduras.

N.m.tenuicaudaMerriam,1892—WCMexico.

N.m.torquataWard,1891—SCMexico.

N. m. tropicalis Goldman, 1904 — NE Oaxaca (S Mexico).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 152-205 mm, tail 133-216 mm, ear 25-30 mm, hindfoot 33-41 mm; weight 151-253 g. The Mexican Woodrat is moderately sized relative to other species of Neotoma . Dorsum varies from light gray to reddish brown, with darker dorsal color due to intermingled black hair. Sides are brownish orange, and venter is white or yellowish, with intermingled grayish hair. Hair is thick and sometimes rough. Ears are nearly naked and brown. Eyes are large and ringed by dark lines. Whiskers are thick and long. The Mexican Woodrat is readily distinguished by angle of the antero-internal entrance of M' that extends halfway beyond crown. Interorbital region is narrow, and upper incisors are small.

Habitat. Pine ( Pinus, Pinaceae) and oak ( Quercus, Fagaceae) forests, manzanitas ( Arctostaphylos, Ericaceae), bushy oaks, thorn forests, and grasslands from sea level to elevations of ¢.4045 m. Mexican Woodrats typically prefer rocky environments, slopes, and cliffs in forested or brushy habitats.

Food and Feeding. The Mexican Woodrat feeds on green plant material but also eats fruits, seeds, acorns, fungi, cacti, and, in smaller proportions, insects.

Breeding. Scrotal male Mexican Woodrats have been trapped in June-August and November. Gestation lasts 31-34 days. Litters have 1-3 young; average of 2-3 young/ female has been reported in La Michilia Biosphere Reserve, Durango, Mexico.

Activity patterns. Mexican Woodrats are nocturnal, with peaks of activity at dusk and midnight. They tend to be more active during the dry season than in the rainy season.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Average density of Mexican Woodrats in La Michilia Biosphere Reserve was 13-3 ind/ha; average activity area was 350 m? (range 250-524 m?®). Density probably depends on availability of food and the rainy season. Unlike other woodrat species, the Mexican Woodrat does not construct an elaborate midden; instead it prefers tree cavities, crevices, or abandoned nests of other vertebrates. Interiors of nests are covered with vegetative material such bark and pine needles. Activity peaks in May-June and September-November.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Mexican Woodrat is widespread and common. It does not face any known conservation threats.

Bibliography. Allen (1898), Alvarez & Polaco (1984), Baird (1855b), Bangs (1903a), Burt (1939), Ceballos & Galindo (1984), Cornely & Baker (1986), Dalquest (1951), Edwards & Bradley (2002), Finley (1953, 1958), Goldman (1904, 1905, 1933, 1938), Hall (1955, 1981), Lépez-Vidal & Alvarez (1993), Merriam (1892b, 1893, 1894b, 1903b), Olsen (1968), Ordénez-Garza et al. (2014), Polaco et al. (1982), Reid (1997), Ward (1891), Zarza & Ceballos (2014a).