Peromyscus schmidlyi

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iPeromyscus schmidlyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Superfamily: Muroidea
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Peromyscus
Species: P. schmidlyi
Binomial name
Peromyscus schmidlyi
Bradley et al., 2004

Peromyscus schmidlyi is a recently described species of deer mouse from Durango, Mexico. It is part of the highly complex and well-studied Peromyscus boylii species complex. The uniqueness of Peromyscus from this area has long been suspected, but was only formalized in 2004 with the publication of its species description.

Its monophyly has been confirmed using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. No nuclear genes have been used in an analysis. The species is also unique from other Peromyscus in cranial measurements, and karyotype (FN = 54-56). Its closest relative appears to be Peromyscus levipes.

Like many other members of the P. boylii species group, P. schmidlyi is found at higher elevations, above 2,000 m. It is known to inhabit pine-oak forests. The species was named in honor of Dr. David Schmidly, renowned mammalogist and current president of Oklahoma State University.

[edit] References

  • Bradley, R. D., D. S. Carroll, M. L. Haynie, R. M. Martinez, M. J. Hamilton, and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2004. A new species of Peromyscus from western Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy, 85:1184-1193.
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