263.

Black-eared Deermouse

Peromyscus melanotis

French: Péromyscus a oreilles noires / German: Schwarzohr-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de orejas negras

Other common names: Black-eared Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus melanotis J. A. Allen & F. M. Chapman, 1897, “Las Vigas, State of Vera Cruz, Mexico.”

Peromyscus melanotis is in the maniculatus species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. SE Arizona, USA, S throughout the Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental, and the Mexican Plateau to N Michoacan, Puebla, and W Veracruz, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 91-102 mm, tail 49-75 mm, ear 15-20 mm, hindfoot 18-26 mm; weight 17-28 g. The Black-eared Deermouse is one of the smallest species of Peromyscus . Dorsum is ocherous brown, interspersed with dark gray to dusky in middorsal region. Venter is white. It typically has conspicuous lateralline. Tail is strongly bicolored (dark above and lighter below) and is shorter than head-body length. Ears are dark, with white edges and distinctive tufts of dark hair at their bases. Females usually are larger than males. Juveniles have greater morphological variation than subadults and are homogeneously dark until they reach sexual maturity. The Black-eared Deermouse resembles the North American Deermouse (FP. maniculatus) but is distinguished by well-defined dorsal line and dark tufts at bases of ears.

Habitat. Pine-fir forests and intermixed grasslands in high mountains, temperate and semi-cold areas in cloud forests and coniferous forests, and edges of native vegetation and croplands at elevations of 1100-4300 m (most captures occurring above 2000 m).

Food and Feeding. The Black-eared Deermouse eats seeds of seasonal herbs and grasses and insects.

Breeding. Pregnant Black-eared Deermice have been recorded in January, May, July-August, and November. Litters have 2-5 young, averaging 3-5-3-8 young.

Activity patterns. The Black-eared Deermouse is crepuscular and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Allen & Chapman (1897a), Alvarez-Castaneda (2005a), Baker (1956), Bowers et al. (1973), Castro-Campillo, Martinez-Coronel et al. (2014), Davis, D.E. (1944), Hall (1981), Martinez-Coronel et al. (1991), Musser & Carleton (2005).