248.

Merriam’s Deermouse

Peromyscus merriami

French: Péromyscus de Merriam / German: Merriam-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de Merriam

Other common names: Merriam's Mouse, Mesquite Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus merriami Mearns, 1896, on Sonoyta River, Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico .

Some studies suggest that P. merriami should include P. dickeyi . Peromyscus merriami 1s in the eremicus species group. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.m.merriamiMearns,1896—SArizona,USA,andWSonora,Mexico.

P. m. goldmani Osgood, 1904 — S Sonora and N Sinaloa, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 89-97 mm, tail 94-126 mm, ear 17-23 mm, hindfoot 20-24 mm; weight 15-20 g. Merriam’s Deermouse is one of the smaller species of Peromyscus . It is morphologically similar to the Cactus Deermouse ( P. eremicus) but slightly larger. Dorsum is generally ocherous buff to cinnamon-buff, washed with dusky tones; sides and head are more gray; and venteris whitish. Pectoral dark brown spot is often present. Tail is bicolored (darker above), as long as or longer than head-body length, with small tuft at end. Ears are relatively small for body size. Skull is robust, with wide zygomatic arch and large interorbital channel. Subspecies merriami has smaller body and lighter color than does subspecies goldmand.

Habitat. Coastal xeric scrublands, thorn forests, and grasslands from sea levelto elevations of ¢.800 m. Some reports indicate that Merriam’s Deermouse is closely associated with mesquite ( Prosopis spp., Fabaceae).

Food and Feeding. Merriam’s Deermouse probably eats seeds, although little information is available.

Breeding. Pregnant and lactating Merriam’s Deermice have been captured yearround. Litters have 2-4 young.

Activity patterns. Merriam’s Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Hafner et al. (2001), Hall (1981), Hoffmeister (1986), Hoffmeister & Diersing (1973), Hoffmeister & Lee (1963), Lawlor (1971a, 1971b), Mearns (1896), Musser & Carleton (2005), Osgood (1904), Quijada & Ortega (2014) .