186.

Sonoran Woodrat

Neotoma phenax

French: Néotoma du Sonora / German: Sonora-Buschratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de Sonora

Taxonomy. Teanopus phenax Merriam, 1903, Camoa, Rio Mayo, Sonora, Mexico.

Neotoma phenaxis a member of the subgenus Teanopus. Monotypic.

Distribution. Coastal SW Sonora and NW Sinaloa states (NW Mexico).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 181-211 mm, tail 149-220 mm, ear 28-35 mm, hindfoot 22-40 mm; weight 18-279 g. The Sonoran Woodrat is one of the largest woodrats. Unlike other species of woodrats, tail is hairy, and bullae are inflated. Males are slightly larger than females. Dorsum is brownish to gray, depending on age and season, but head is always gray.

Habitat. Coastal thorn-scrub habitats from sea level to elevations of c.150 m.

Food and Feeding. The Sonoran Woodrat reportedly eats fruits of persimmon tree ( Diospyros, Ebenaceae).

Breeding. Female Sonoran Woodrats have 2 litters/year, with an average of two offspring perlitter.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. In Sonora, the Sonoran Woodrat constructs middens in small shrubs and short trees along rivers. In Sinaloa,it nests on the ground and in shrubs, columnar cacti, and thorn trees 1-6-6-6 m high.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Near Threatened on The IUCN Red List. Populations of Sonoran Woodrats are decreasing, and given its restricted distribution and status as a rare species,it warrants careful monitoring.

Bibliography. Burt (1938), Castillo (2014), Jones & Genoways (1978), Merriam (1903a).