317.

Ixtlan Deermouse

Habromys ixtlani

French: Habromys d'Ixtlan / German: Ixtlan-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de Ixtlan

Other common names: Ixtlan Crested-tail Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus ixtlani Goodwin, 1964, “Cerro Machin, 5b kilometers northeast of Macuiltianguis, District of Ixtlan, Oaxaca, Mexico, at an altitude of 9000 feet [= 2743 m].”

G. G. Musser in 1969 concluded that differences between H. ixtlani and H. lepturus were not consistent and gave them subspecific status under H. lepturus . M. D. Carleton and colleagues in 2002 found sufficient evidence to separate the two taxa as distinct species, recently confirmed by molecular evidence from L. LLeon-Paniagua and colleagues in 2007 and D. S. Rogers and colleagues in 2007. Monotypic.

Distribution. N slopes of Sierra Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 110-133 mm, tail 100-147 mm, ear 20-24 mm, hindfoot 27-31 mm; weight 26-55 g. The Ixtlan Deermouse is a moderately large species of Habromys; dorsum is blackish brown with cinnamon; venter is cream, washed with gray; ears are dark and thin; and tail is bicolored and scarcely haired.

Habitat. Cloud forests at elevations of 2500-3000 m.

Food and Feeding. Ixtlan Deermice are probably omnivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Ixtlan Deermice are nocturnal and semi-arboreal or terrestrial.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castaneda, Castro-Arellano, Lacher & Vazquez (2008c), Carleton et al. (2002), Goodwin (1964), Ceballos & Ledn-Paniagua (2014), Musser (1969a), Ledn-Paniagua et al. (2007), Rogers et al. (2007).