203.

Big-eared Woodrat

Neotoma macrotis

French: Néotoma a oreilles longues / German: GrofsohrBuschratte / Spanish: Rata de bosque de orejas grandes

Other common names: Large-eared \ Woodrat

Taxonomy. Neotoma macrotis Thomas, 1893, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA.

Neotoma macrotis was formerly included in N. fuscipes, but N. fuscipes was divided into two species with N. fuscipes representing northern populations and N. macrotis representing southern populations. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N.m.macrotisThomas,1893—SWCalifornia(SWUSA)intoextremeNWBajaCaliforniaState(NWMexico).

N.m.lucianaHooper,1938—coastalmountainsofCCalifornia(SWUSA).

N.m.martirensisOrr,1934—NBajaCaliforniaState(NWMexico).

N.m.simplexTrue,1894—SCCalifornia(SWUSA).

N. m. streatori Merriam, 1894 — NC California (SW USA).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 177-254 mm, tail 158-214 mm, ear 31-34 mm, hindfoot 32-47 mm; weight 184-358 g. The Big-eared Woodratis large, with dark gray to brown dorsum and white venter. Feet are brown at bases and white in mid-parts. Tail is slightly bicolored and almost naked. Ears have moderate amount of hair.

Habitat. Variety of xeric plant communities with coastal bush, chaparral, and forests of conifers most common, from sea level to elevations of 2550 m.

Food and Feeding. Diet includes a variety of plant species including leaves, flowers, berries, and underground fungi during spring. Grasses and acorns are consumed yearround. Big-eared Woodrats drink water but can survive by extracting metabolic water from green vegetation and fungi.

Breeding. Reproduction occurs in December—September, with peak in mid-spring. Females generally have a single litter per year, although they can have more (rarely five). Litters have 2-3 young (range 1-4). Females are probably promiscuous.

Activity patterns. Big-eared Woodrats are mainly nocturnal, but they reduce their activities during bright and rainy nights. Individuals rattle their tails agains foliage or other vegetation when alarmed.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Average activity area covers 0-2 ha. In chaparral, 18-8 ind/ha have been reported, but density depends on type of habitat. Big-eared Woodrats typically occupy areas with average vegetation cover and sufficient material to construct their middens, which are built with twigs, leaves, and other material at bases of trees and bushes or at bases of hills. Nests can be up to 2:4 m in diameter and high.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Bigeared Woodrat is widely distributed and faces no known conservation threats.

Bibliography. Brylski, P (1990d), Hall (1981), Jameson & Peeters (1988), Luévano & Mellink (2014a), Matocq (2002, 2004, 2005), Merriam (1894b), Orr (1934), Thomas (1893c), True (1894b).