Ochrotomys nuttalli (Harlan, 1832)

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 : 365

208.

Golden Mouse

Ochrotomys nuttalli

French: Ochrotomys / German: Goldmaus / Spanish: Raton dorado

Taxonomy. Arvicola nuttalli Harlan, 1832 , Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia, USA.

Five subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

O.n.nuttalliHarlan,1832—fromSVirginiaStoSWAlabama(SEUSA).

O.n.aureolusAudubon&Bachman,1841—fromKentuckyandWestVirginiaStoNAlabamaandNGeorgia(EUSA).

O.n.flammeusGoldman,1941—EOklahoma,SWMissouri,andArkansas(CUSA).

O.n.flondanusPackard,1969—Florida(SEUSA).

O. n. lisae Packard, 1969 — from SE Missouri and S Illinois S to NE Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi (SC USA).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 51-115 mm, tail 50-97 mm, ear 11-26 mm, hindfoot 12-29 mm; 18-27 g. The Golden Mouse is similar to many small species of Peromyscus but is easily recognizable by its golden to ocherous dorsal and lateral pelage. Underparts are whitish, and tail is distinctly bicolored.

Habitat. Deciduous oak ( Quercus , Fagaceae ) and hickory ( Carya , Juglandaceae ) forests and coniferous forests, preferring habitats with dense understories of especially honeysuckle ( Lonicera , Caprifoliaceae ) and greenbriar ( Smilax , Smilacaceae ).

Food and Feeding. Golden Mice eat a variety of seeds, fruits, and nuts.

Breeding. Depending on region, breeding occurs from early spring through autumn. Litters average 2-6 young, and females can produce severallitters each year. Gestation lasts 25-27 days.

Activity patterns. The Golden Mouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Golden Mouse is very social, living in community like groups. Home ranges appear to be very small, perhaps less than 1 ha. Nests are constructed that can be several meters aboveground.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Golden Mouse is common and faces no known conservation threats.

Bibliography. Audubon & Bachman (1841), Goldman (1941), Harlan (1832), Linzey & Linzey (1967a, 1967b), Linzey & Packard (1977), Packard (1969).

Figures

208. Golden Mouse (Ochrotomys nuttalli), 209. Southern Pygmy Mouse (Baiomys musculus), 210. Northern Pygmy Mouse (Baiomys taylori), 211. Short-tailed Singing Mouse (Scotinomys teguina), 212. Long-tailed Singing Mouse (Scotinomys xerampelinus), 213. Yellow Deermouse (Isthmomys flavidus), 214. Mount Pirr 1 Deermouse (Isthmomys pirrensis), 215. Florida Deermouse (Podomys floridanus), 216. Volcano Deermouse (Neotomodon alstoni), 217. Short-nosed Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys brevirostris), 218. Darien Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys darienensis), 219. Slender Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys gracilis), 220. Mexican Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys mexicanus), 221. Nicaraguan Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys paradoxus), 222. Cozumel Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys spectabilis), 223. Talamancan Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys creper), 224. Rodriguez's Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys rodriguez), 225. Narrow-nosed Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys tenuirostris), 226. Small-toothed Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys microdon), 227. Costa Rican Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys cherrii), 228. Chiriquian Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys garichensis), 229. Musser’s Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys musser), 230. Baker’s Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys baker), 231. Fulvous Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys fulvescens), 232. Hairy Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys hirsutus), 233. Sonoran Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys burt), 234. Volcano Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys chrysopsis), 235. Eastern Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis), 236. Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), 237. Plains Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys montanus), 238. Salt-marsh Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), 239. Sumichrast’s Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys sumichrasti), 240. Zacatecan Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys zacatecae), 242. Northern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), 243. Southern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys torridus), 244. Osgood’s Deermouse (Osgoodomys banderanus)

Subspecies and Distribution. O.n.nuttalliHarlan,1832—fromSVirginiaStoSWAlabama(SEUSA). O.n.aureolusAudubon&Bachman,1841—fromKentuckyandWestVirginiaStoNAlabamaandNGeorgia(EUSA). O.n.flammeusGoldman,1941—EOklahoma,SWMissouri,andArkansas(CUSA). O.n.flondanusPackard,1969—Florida(SEUSA). O. n. lisae Packard, 1969 — from SE Missouri and S Illinois S to NE Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi (SC USA).