296.

Gleaning Deermouse

Peromyscus spicilegus

French: Péromyscus glaneur / German: Sammelnde Hirschmaus / Spanish: Ratén ciervo reluciente

Other common names: Gleaning Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus spicilegus J. A. Allen, 1897, Mineral San Sebastian, Mascota, Jalisco, Mexico.

Peromyscus spicilegus is in the aztecus species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Extreme SE Sinaloa and SW Chihuahua S along the Sierra Madre Occidental to W Michoacan, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 103 mm, tail 100 mm, ear 18 mm, hindfoot 22 mm (averages of 441 individuals); weight 22-36 g. The Gleaning Deermouse is medium-sized, with rich tawny approaching ocherous rufous dorsum, mixed with dusky tipped hairs, and with moderately dark mid-dorsal line. Venter is creamy white, with slate-gray under color. Generally ocherous mid-dorsal and tawny pectoral patches are present. Black orbital ring is usually present. Ears are dusky at bases. Hindfeet are white, with dark brown streak onto tarsal regions. Tail is bicolored (blackish brown above and white below) and essentially as long as head-body length. Skull is similar to that of the Brush Deermouse (P. boyliz), but interoribital region of the Gleaning Deermouse is more angular than hourglass-shaped.

Habitat. Coastal lowlands, tropical deciduous forests, and pine-oak forests at elevations of 15-1980 m. The Gleaning Deermouse prefers rocky hillsides, canyons, and areas with downed trees and boulders.

Food and Feeding. The Gleaning Deermouse probably eats seeds, insects, and plant material.

Breeding. Reproduction of the Gleaning Deermouse occurs year-round. Scrotal males were caugt in January, March, September, and October; lactating females were collected in January, September, October, and November; females with embryos were caught in August and October; and juveniles were caught in February-March. Litter size of two females was three young.

Activity patterns. The Gleaning Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Allen (1897b), Bradley et al. (1996), Carleton (1977 1979), Hooper (1955), Marcé & Castro-Arellano (2014), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nowak (1991), Nunez et al. (1981), Osgood (1909), Roberts et al. (1998), Sanchez-Cordero & Villa (1988), Schmidly & Schroeter (1974).