White-toothed woodrat

White-toothed woodrat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Genus: Neotoma
Subgenus: Neotoma
Species: N. leucodon
Binomial name
Neotoma leucodon
Merriam, 1894

Although originally named from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, as a species by Merriam, the white-toothed woodrat was long considered to be a synonym of the white-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula). Molecular data, however, indicate the populations east of the Rio Grande in New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas represent a different species than morphologically similar populations west of the river.

The habitat preferences of the two species appear similar, with woodland to desert habitats preferred. Almost invariably, cacti, especially cholla and prickly pear (Opuntia), are present. In general, the data provided by Macedo and Mares (1988) for what was then thought to be a single species applies to both.

Sources

  1. Timm, R., Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T. & Lacher, T. (2008). Neotoma leucodon. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 3 August 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.

References


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