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
251.
Southern Baja Deermouse
Peromyscus eva
French:
Péromyscus eva
/
German:
Sudliche Baja-Hirschmaus
/
Spanish:
Raton ciervo de Baja California meridional
Other common names:
Eva's Desert Mouse
Taxonomy.
Peromyscus eva Thomas, 1898
,
San Jose del Cabo,
Baja California Sur
,
Mexico
.
Peromyscus eva
1s in the
eremicus
species group. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
P.e.evaThomas,1898—extremeSBajaCaliforniaandBajaCaliforniaSur,Mexico.
P. e. carmeni Townsend, 1912
— known only from the type locality on Carmen I, Baja
California Sur
, Mexico.
Descriptive notes.
Head—body 84-90 mm, tail 100-128 mm, ear 15-17 mm, hindfoot 20-21 mm; weight 13-20 g. The Southern Baja Deermouse is small to mediumsized, with russet-sandy dorsal pelage in southern parts of the distribution to ocherous brown in the north; it is largest at northern and smallest at southern limits of their distribution. Venter is creamy white. Tail is long and uniform in color. Feet are whitish. The Southern Baja Deermouse differs from the Northern Baja Deermouse (
P. fraterculus
) in having proportionally longer tail, differences in pelage color, and smaller baculum.
Habitat.
Rocky areas and slopes of desert scrubland, palm groves, and occasionally edges between wet grassland and pine-oak forests from sea level to elevations of ¢.1650 m.
Food and Feeding.
The Southern Baja Deermouse is almost completely herbivorous, eating mainly green vegetation, seeds, and fruits.
Breeding.
The Southern Baja Deermouse might reproduce year-round, peaking in rainy season in late summer and autumn. Pregnant and lactating females have been captured in February—June. Litters have 1-4 young.
Activity patterns.
The Southern Baja Deermouse is nocturnal. It reportedly excavates burrows at bases of rocks and trees.
Movements, Home range and Social organization.
No information.
Status and Conservation.
Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Nevertheless, subspecies carmen: on Isla del Carmen is considered endangered in Mexico.
Bibliography.
Alvarez-Castafieda & Cortés-Calva (2003), Burt (1960), Lawlor (1971a), Mellink & Luévano (2014d), Musser & Carleton (2005), Woloszyn & Woloszyn (1982).