Peromyscus schmidlyi

Peromyscus schmidlyi
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
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

Schmidly's deer mouse (Peromyscus schmidlyi), is a recently described species of deer mouse from the mountains of western Mexico. It is part of the highly complex and well-studied Peromyscus boylii species complex. The uniqueness of Peromyscus from this area had long been suspected, but was only formalized in 2004 with the publication of its species description. The species was named in honor of Dr. David J. Schmidly, renowned mammalogist and current president of the University of New Mexico.

Note, the name "Schmidly's deer mouse" is ambiguous, as it is shared by another species, Habromys schmidlyi.

Description

P. schmidlyi is a typical deer mouse, and can only be reliably distinguished from other members of its species group by DNA analysis. It is 18 to 21 cm (7.1 to 8.3 in) in length, with a tail 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) long.[2] The fur is reddish umber over most of the body, becoming almost white on the under parts. The feet have a grey stripe extending past the ankle, and white toes. The tail is dark and bears only coarse, sparse hair, except for a tuft at the tip.[3]

Its monophyly has been confirmed using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. No nuclear genes have been used in the analysis. The species is also unique from other Peromyscus in having karyotype (FN = 54-56). Its closest relative appears to be Peromyscus levipes.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found in the states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Durango in the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico.[4] Like many other members of the P. boylii species group, it is found only at higher elevations, above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). It is known to inhabit deep gullies and rocky hillsides in pine-oak forests.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T., Castro-Arellano, I., Lacher, T., Vázquez, E. & Arroyo-Cabrales, J. (2008). "Peromyscus schmidlyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ordóñez-Garza, N. & Bradley, R.D. (2011). "Peromyscus schmidlyi (Rodentia: Cricetidae)". Mammalian Species 43 (1): 31–36. doi:10.1644/872.1.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bradley, R.D. et al. (2004). "A new species of Peromyscus from western Mexico". Journal of Mammalogy 85 (6): 1184–1193. doi:10.1644/BEL-113.1.
  4. ↑ Cabrera, H. et al. (2007). "Distribution and natural history of the Schmidly's deermouse". Southwestern Naturalist 52 (4): 620–623. doi:10.1894/0038-4909(2007)52[620:DANHOS]2.0.CO;2.