Cricetidae
Author
Don E. Wilson
Author
Russell A. Mittermeier
Author
Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
text
2017
2017-11-30
Lynx Edicions
Barcelona
Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 7 Rodents II
204
535
book chapter
80832
10.5281/zenodo.6707142
ab66b2b7-9544-4411-bf61-5bc3651d7bca
978-84-16728-04-6
6707142
334.
Miahuatlan Cotton Rat
Sigmodon planifrons
French:
Sigmodon de Miahuatlan
/
German:
Miahuatlan-Baumwollratte
/
Spanish:
Rata de algodén de Miahuatlén
Taxonomy.
Sigmodon planifrons Nelson & Goldman, 1933
,
“Juquila, southwestern
Oaxaca
,
Mexico
(altitude
5000 feet
[=
1524 m
]).”
This species is monotypic.
Distribution.
Limited to Pacific slope of Sierra de Miahuatlan, S
Oaxaca
, Mexico.
Descriptive notes.
Head-body 119 mm,tail 88-111 mm, ear 14 mm, hindfoot 29 mm. No specific data available for body weight. The Miahuatlan Cotton Rat is notable forits small size; upperparts are ocherous buff and ocherous tawny, mixed with black; dark hair is most numerous on top of head, ears, and back, thinning along sides; rumpis suffused with light tawny; underparts are dark gray, overlaid with dull white; forefeet and hindfeet are buffy grayish above; and tail is bicolored, dark brown above and lighter brown below. Cranium is small, relatively flat in lateral view, and weakly ridged; auditory bullae are small; rostrum is slender; and upperincisorsare slightly recurved. Karyotype is unknown.
Habitat.
Moist slopes covered with vines and shrubs in deciduous tropical forests at elevations of 1000-2300 m.
Food and Feeding.
Diet is presumably herbivorous to omnivorous.
Breeding.
No information.
Activity patterns.
The Miahuatlan Cotton Rat is presumably diurnal and nocturnal.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
No information.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Miahuatlan Cotton Rat has a small distribution and presumably small overall population. It has likely experienced severe fragmentation and loss of habitat from transformation for tourism and agriculture.
Bibliography.
Alvarez-Castafieda, Castro-Arellano, Lacher, Vazquez & Arroyo-Cabrales (2008), Carleton et al. (1999), Ceballos (2014a), Corley & Bradley (2014a), Goodwin (1955a, 1959b), Musser & Carleton (2005), Nelson & Goldman (1933).