256.

Coronados Deermouse

Peromyscus pseudocrinitus

French: Péromyscus des Coronados / German: Coronados-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Ratén ciervo de Coronados

Other common names: False Canyon Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus pseudocrinitus Burt, 1932, “Coronados Island (latitude 26° 06° N., longitude 111° 18’ W.), Gulf of California, Lower [= Baja] California, Mexico.”

Peromyscus pseudocrinitus is in the eremicus species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Coronado Is, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 84 mm, tail 110 mm, ear 16 mm, hindfoot 21 mm (averages from six adults). No specific data are available for body weight. The Coronados Deermouse is small to medium-sized, with plumbeous black dorsum, washed with cinnamon. Venter is white. Tail is bicolored (dark above and light below) over proximal two-thirds of its length and scantily haired. Skull is similar to that of the Canyon Deermouse ( P. crinitus), but longer (average length 25-6 mm) and with smaller auditory bullae. The Coronados Deermouse has been associated with subgenus Peromyscus based on teeth characteristics, but baculum, glans, and other external characters are very similar to those of the Cactus Deermouse ( P. eremicus) and members of subgenus Haplomylomys .

Habitat. Xeric scrubland vegetation (chollas, cardones, and other cacti), coastal dunes, and tropical deciduous forests (along volcanic cone) from sea level to an elevation of 283 m.

Food and Feeding. Coronados Deermice probably feed on seeds,fleshy parts of plants, and insects.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Coronados Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castafieda (1998), Bourillon et al. (1988), Burt (1932, 1960), Hall (1981), Lawlor (1971a, 1971b), Musser & Carleton (2005), Ramirez & Avila (2014b).