278.

Chiapan Deermouse

Peromyscus zarhynchus

French: Péromyscus du Chiapas / German: Chiapas-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Ratdn ciervo de Chiapas

Taxonomy. Peromyscus zarhynchus Merriam, 1898, “Tumbala, Chiapas, Mexico.”

Peromyscus zarhynchus is in the mexicanus species group. Populations in Guatemala, formerly recognized as P. zarhynchus, have been reassigned to P. gardneri. Monotypic.

Distribution. C Chiapas, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 146-149 mm, tail 157-178 mm, ear 21-24 mm, hindfoot 33-38 mm; weight 45-90 g. The Chiapan Deermouse is one of the largest species of Peromyscus. Dorsum is dusky, becoming seal brown on sides and chestnut fulvous on flanks. Venter hairs are whitish but plumbeous at bases. Pectoral region is strongly washed with chestnut. Feet are whitish. Tail is bicolored (dusky above and yellowish below), as long as head-body length, and blotched underneath. Rostrum is exceptionally long and can be used to distinguish the Chiapan Deermouse from other species of Peromyscus.

Habitat. Cloud, pine-oak, and sweetgum (Liquidambar, Altingiaceae) forests at elevations of 1400-2900 m. The Chiapan Deermouse is strongly associated with primary and old growth forests with high structural complexity, mosses, and other cloud forest vegetation.

Food and Feeding. Chiapan Deermice likely eat fruits, seeds, mycorrhizae, and arthropods.

Breeding. Litters of Chiapan Deermice have 1-4 young.

Activity patterns. The Chiapan Deermouse is presumably nocturnal. It burrows along steep slopes and ravines and under tree roots.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Hall (1981), Horvath et al. (2001), Lackey (1976), Lorenzo et al. (2016), McClellan & Rogers (1997), Musser & Carleton (2005), Romo & Horvath (2014).