181.

Goldman’s Diminutive Woodrat

Nelsonia goldmani

French: Néotoma des volcans / German: Goldman-Kleinstbuschratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque pequena de Goldman

Other common names: Nelson and Goldman's Woodrat

Taxonomy. Nelsonia goldmani Merriam, 1903, Mt. Tancitaro, Michoacan, Mexico.

Nelsonia neomotodon goldmani was elevated to species status, and N. n. cliftoni was assigned to N. goldmani . Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N.g.goldmaniMerriam,1903—disjunctinthePatambanandTancitaroMtsinMichoacanEtoMexicoandMorelosstates(SCMexico).

N. g. cliftoni Genoways & J. K. Jones, 1968 — around El Jazmin and Nevado de Colima Volcano in S Jalisco and NE Colima states (W Mexico).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 117-133 mm, tail 108-126 mm, ear 22-26 mm, hindfoot 25-30 mm; weight 43-57 g. Goldman’s Diminutive Woodratis similar to but smaller than other species of woodrats. Tail is thick and hairy, ears are round, and vibrissae are large. It is similar in appearance to large species of Peromyscus but is distinguished by thicker and more hairy tail, longer vibrissae, and larger hindfeet. Subspecies are distinguished by differences in pelage color: goldmani is dark gray and mid-dorsal line is poorly defined, and cliftoni is more yellowish and mid-dorsal line is more prominent and buffy. Goldman’s Diminutive Woodratis distinguished from the Western Diminutive Woodrat (NN. neotomodon) by darker dorsal pelage, larger and darker feet, and nonbicolored tail.

Habitat. Cloud forests of conifers (Pinusand Abies) and oak ( Quercus Fagaceae), associated with volcanic peaks in western Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Eje Volcanico Transversal) and apparently restricted to elevations of 2000-3100 m. Goldman's Diminutive Woodrat typically occupies wet environments associated with rocky slopes, ravines, and gullies.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Non-pregnant Goldman’s Diminutive Woodrats were captured in October and July, and juveniles were collected in February in Michoacan.

Activity patterns. Goldman’s Diminutive Woodrat is presumably nocturnal. Most specimens have been captured on the ground, frequently under moss-covered rocks, but there is a report of a tail recovered from a trap placed in a tree 2-5 m aboveground, indicating that this species may be partially arboreal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Goldman's Diminutive Woodratis protected in Mexico, rarely encountered, apparently a specialist to high elevation cloud forest habitats, and endemic to Mexico. Given its rather narrow distribution and habitat requirements, it should be monitored carefully. Its habitat is similar to that used by overwintering monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), so efforts to establish butterfly sanctuaries in Michoacan indirectly could benefit Goldman’s Diminutive Woodrat.

Bibliography. Engstrom (2014a), Engstrom et al. (1992), Genoways & Jones (1968), Glendinning (1992), Gonzalez-Cézatl et al. (2016), Hooper (1954), Merriam (1903a).