Neotomodon alstoni, Merriam, 1897

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 : 367

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6707142

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6725830

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F06D13-FFF7-203E-0D48-186A01C0FA1B

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Neotomodon alstoni
status

 

216. View Plate 16: Cricetidae

Volcano Deermouse

Neotomodon alstoni View in CoL

French: Péromyscus dAlston / German: Mexikanische Vulkanmaus / Spanish: Ratén ciervo de volcanes

Other common names: Mexican Volcano Mouse

Taxonomy. Neotomodon alston: Merriam, 1898 , Nahuatzin, 8500 ft (= 2591 m), Michoacan, Mexico.

Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

N.a.alstoniMerriam,1898—WCMichoacanEtoECVeracruzstates(CMexico).

N. a. perotensis Merriam, 1898 — restricted to limited areas surrounding the Cofre de Perote Volcano in Veracruz State (CE Mexico). View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 96-128 mm, tail 78-105 mm, ear 19-23 mm, hindfoot 23-27 mm; weight 40-60 g. The Volcano Deermouse is medium-sized, similar to some species of Peromyscus . Dorsum is dark gray, and sides are yellowish ocher. Venter is white, and some specimens have a small yellowish pectoral spot. Tail is shorter than head-body length and slightly bicolored.

Habitat. Grasslands, particularly microhabitats in zacatonal (montane) grassland and shrubland and forest-zacatonal associations, and conifer and oak ( Quercus , Fagaceae ) forests at elevations of 2400-4960 m. The Volcano Deermouse is endemic to Mexico, with a distribution restricted to the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Eje Volcanico Transversal) from central Michoacan to central Puebla and Veracruz.

Food and Feeding. Diet includes stems, sprouts, and leaves of herbs.

Breeding. The Volcano Deermouse is thought to reproduce throughout the year, with a peak in April-September. Gestation lasts 25-35 days, and young are weaned in 20-30 days. Litters average 3-1 young.

Activity patterns. The Volcano Deermouse is presumably nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Average density is 29 ind/ha.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Although the Volcano Deermouse is endemic, it does not face known conservation threats. Its distribution is relatively large, it is abundant in diverse localities, and it occurs in protected areas as Izta-Popo Zoquiapan and Nevado de Toluca national parks.

Bibliography. Chavez (2014), Martin & Alvarez (1982), Merriam (1898), Olivera et al. (1986), Rojas (1984).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Cricetidae

Genus

Neotomodon

Loc

Neotomodon alstoni

Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier & Thomas E. Lacher, Jr 2017
2017
Loc

Neotomodon alston:

Merriam 1898
1898
GBIF Dataset (for parent article) Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF