Peromyscus dickeyi, Burt, 1932

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 : 379

254.

Dickey’s Deermouse

Peromyscus dickeyi

French: Péromyscus de Dickey / German: Dickey-Hirschmaus / Spanish: Ratdn ciervo de Dickey

Other common names: Dickey's Mouse

Taxonomy. Peromyscus dickeyi Burt, 1932 , “Tortuga Island (latitude 27° 21’ N., longitude 111° 54° W.), Gulf of California, Lower [= Baja ] California , Mexico.”

Peromyscus dickeyi is considered by some to be a subspecies of P. merriami , but its species status is retained based on diagnostic morphological differences. Peromyscus dickeyi is in the eremicus species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Tortuga I, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 96-103 mm, tail 90-100 mm, ear 19-22 mm, hindfoot 22-24 mm; weight 23-35 g. Dickey’s Deermouse is small to medium-sized, with dusky dorsum, washed with pinkish cinnamon. Distinct ocherous lateral line is present. Venter is white, with pinkish cinnamon pectoral spot. Tail is shorter than head-body length and bicolored. Ears are dark, and hindfeet are naked. Dickey’s Deermouse resembles Merriam’s Deermouse (PF. merriami ), but its auditory bullae are smaller.

Habitat. Only xeric scrubland from sea levelto elevations of ¢.300 m (maximum elevation of the island). Dickey’s Deermouse prefers rocky slopes at the southern end of the island, but some individuals have been captured in the north.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Dickey’s Deermouse appears to reproduce in summer and early autumn. Pregnant and lactating females have been caught in October.

Activity patterns. Dickey’s 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 & Cortés-Calva (1999), Bourillén et al. (1988), Burt (1932), Cortés-Calva & Alvarez-Castaneda (2001), Hafner et al. (2001), Mellink & Luévano (2014c), Musser & Carleton (2005).

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. Tortuga I, Baja California Sur , Mexico.