286.

Michoacan Deermouse

Peromyscus sagax

French: Péromyscus du Michoacan / German: Michoacan-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de Michoacan

Taxonomy. Peromyscus sagax Elliot, 1903, La Palma, Michoacan, Mexico.

Peromyscus sagax initially was described as a full species, but a revision of the genus by W. H. Osgood in 1909 considered it a subspecies of P. true. It was later placed in the boylii species group as a synonym of P. boylii levipes . Recent morphological, morphometric, and genetic studies now recognize it as a distinct species. Monotypic.

Distribution. NW Michoacan (Los Reyes), Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 92-101 mm, tail 98-109 mm, ear 19-21 mm, hindfoot 22-5-23-5 mm; weight 22-36 g. Dorsum of the Michoacan Deermouse is grayish brown, and venter and legs are white. Tail is slightly longer than or equal to head-body length. It morphologically resembles the Nimble-footed Deermouse (FP. levipes) and the Saxicoline Deermouse ( P. gratus).

Habitat. Pine-oak forests, scrublands, and crop fields at elevations of 1300-1700 m.

Food and Feeding. The Michoacan Deermouse eats seeds, fruits, sprouts of plants, and sometimes invertebrates.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Michoacan Deermouse is nocturnal and terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. The Michoacan Deermouse could be considered threatented because only a few specimens have been caught and its distribution is very restricted.

Bibliography. Bradley et al. (2007), Ceballos & Oliva (2006), Hall (1981), Osgood (1909).