Peromyscus guatemalensis, Merriam, 1898

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr, 2017, Cricetidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 204-535 : 387

282.

Guatemalan Deermouse

Peromyscus guatemalensis

French: Péromyscus du Guatemala / German: Guatemala-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de Guatemala

Taxonomy. Peromyscus guatemalensis Merriam, 1898 , Todos Santos, 10,000 ft (= 3048), Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala.

Peromyscus guatemalensis is in the mexicanus species group. Until recently, two subspecies of P. guatemalensis were recognized, but elevation of P. g. tropicalis to species status left P. guatemalensis as a monotypic species.

Distribution. SE Chiapas (Sierra Madre),

Mexico, and SW Guatemala.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-137 mm, tail 122-153 mm, ear 22-25 mm, hindfoot 28-34 mm; weight 40-68 g. The Guatemalan Deermouse is one of the larger species of Peromyscus . Dorsal pelage is woolly and ferruginous to dark grayish brown. Venter is whitish, with slaty basal color, and pectoral region is washed with cinnamon rufous. Hindfeet are white, and tarsal region is dark. Tail is generally longer than head-body length, bicolored (darker above than below), and blotched underneath.

Habitat. Cloud and pine-oak forests at elevations of 1300-3000 m. Guatemalan Deermice have been caught in primary forests typified by epiphytes and other mesic vegetation; they prefer relatively dense undergrowth and areas of fallen trees and logs.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Pregnant Guatemalan Deermice were caught in beginning of rainy season (June-July).

Activity patterns. The Guatemalan Deermouse is terrestrial and nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

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

Bibliography. Hall (1981), Horvath (2014a), Huckaby (1980), Musser & Carleton (2005), Pérez-Consuegra & Véazquez-Dominguez (2015), Reid (1997).

Figures

245. Hooper's Deermouse (Peromyscus hooper), 246. Canyon Deermouse (Peromyscus crinitus), 247. California Deermouse (Peromyscus californicus), 248. Merriam’s Deermouse (Peromyscus merriami), 249. Cactus Deermouse (Peromyscus eremicus), 250. San Lorenzo Deermouse (Peromyscus interparietalis), 251. Southern Baja Deermouse (Peromyscus eva), 252. Northern Baja Deermouse (Peromyscus fraterculus), 253. Monserrat Island Deermouse (Peromyscus caniceps), 254. Dickey’s Deermouse (Peromyscus dickeyi), 255. La Guarda Deermouse (Peromyscus guardia), 256. Coronados Deermouse (Peromyscus pseudocrinitus), 257. Cotton Deermouse (Peromyscus gossypinus), 258. White-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus leucopus), 259. Santa Cruz Deermouse (Peromyscus sejugis), 260. North-western Deermouse (Peromyscus keeni), 261. Oldfield Deermouse (Peromyscus polionotus), 262. North American Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), 264. Black-tailed Deermouse (Peromyscus melanurus), 265. Broad-faced Deermouse (Peromyscus megalops), 266. Black-wristed Deermouse (Peromyscus melanocarpus), 267. Catalina Deermouse (Peromyscus slevini), 268. Tawny Deermouse (Peromyscus perfulvus), 269. Plateau Deermouse (Peromyscus melanophrys), 270. Puebla Deermouse (Peromyscus mekisturus), 271. Mayan Deermouse (Peromyscus mayensis), 272. Stirton’s Deermouse (Peromyscus stirtoni), 273. Yucatan Deermouse (Peromyscus yucatanicus), 274. Chimoxan Deermouse (Peromyscus tropicalis), 275. Talamancan Deermouse (Peromyscus nudipes), 276. Mexican Deermouse (Peromyscus mexicanus), 277. Naked-eared Deermouse (Peromyscus gymnotis), 278. Chiapan Deermouse (Peromyscus zarhynchus), 279. Gardner’s Deermouse (Peromyscus gardneri), 280. Nicaraguan Deermouse (Peromyscus nicaraguae), 281. Salvadorean Deermouse (Peromyscus salvadorensis), 282. Guatemalan Deermouse (Peromyscus guatemalensis), 283. Large Deermouse (Peromyscus grandis)

Distribution. SE Chiapas (Sierra Madre), Mexico, and SW Guatemala.