Peromyscus eva, Thomas, 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 : 378-379

251.

Southern Baja Deermouse

Peromyscus eva

French: Péromyscus eva / German: Sudliche Baja-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Raton ciervo de Baja California meridional

Other common names: Eva's Desert Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus eva Thomas, 1898 , San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Peromyscus eva 1s in the eremicus species group. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.e.evaThomas,1898—extremeSBajaCaliforniaandBajaCaliforniaSur,Mexico.

P. e. carmeni Townsend, 1912 — known only from the type locality on Carmen I, Baja California Sur , Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 84-90 mm, tail 100-128 mm, ear 15-17 mm, hindfoot 20-21 mm; weight 13-20 g. The Southern Baja Deermouse is small to mediumsized, with russet-sandy dorsal pelage in southern parts of the distribution to ocherous brown in the north; it is largest at northern and smallest at southern limits of their distribution. Venter is creamy white. Tail is long and uniform in color. Feet are whitish. The Southern Baja Deermouse differs from the Northern Baja Deermouse ( P. fraterculus ) in having proportionally longer tail, differences in pelage color, and smaller baculum.

Habitat. Rocky areas and slopes of desert scrubland, palm groves, and occasionally edges between wet grassland and pine-oak forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.1650 m.

Food and Feeding. The Southern Baja Deermouse is almost completely herbivorous, eating mainly green vegetation, seeds, and fruits.

Breeding. The Southern Baja Deermouse might reproduce year-round, peaking in rainy season in late summer and autumn. Pregnant and lactating females have been captured in February—June. Litters have 1-4 young.

Activity patterns. The Southern Baja Deermouse is nocturnal. It reportedly excavates burrows at bases of rocks and trees.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Nevertheless, subspecies carmen: on Isla del Carmen is considered endangered in Mexico.

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castafieda & Cortés-Calva (2003), Burt (1960), Lawlor (1971a), Mellink & Luévano (2014d), Musser & Carleton (2005), Woloszyn & Woloszyn (1982).

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)

Subspecies and Distribution. P.e.evaThomas,1898—extremeSBajaCaliforniaandBajaCaliforniaSur,Mexico. P. e. carmeni Townsend, 1912 — known only from the type locality on Carmen I, Baja California Sur , Mexico.