Southern harvest mouse
| Southern harvest mouse | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Baiomys musculus | ||||||||||||
| ( Merriam , 1892) |
The southern harvest mouse ( Baiomys musculus ) is a rodent in the burrower family that is found in Central America. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN .
Clinton Hart Merriam originally described the species as a member of the genus Sitomys . In 1894, Frederick William True introduced the subgenus Baiomys , which is now recognized as a genus. The taxon Sitomys was later dissolved .
features
The southern harvest mouse reaches a total length of 115 to 135 mm and a tail length of 42 to 54 mm. The hind feet are 16 to 17 mm long. Young animals have a smoky gray coat and go through two coat changes before sexual maturity. In adult animals, reddish brown, brown or almost black fur occurs on the upper side, while the underside is covered with light brown to white fur that has a pink shade. In each half of the jaw there is an incisor, no canine, no premier and three molar teeth.
distribution
The distribution area extends from southern Mexico to the north-west of Nicaragua . The species can be found in the lowlands and in mountains up to 2,000 meters above sea level. The habitat varies between deciduous forests, meadows, bushes and arable land.
Way of life
The southern harvest mouse is predominantly crepuscular. It rests in holes in the ground or in crevices in the rock that are padded with parts of plants. Often several specimens share a sleeping place. In northern populations, about half of the diet consists of insects. The species otherwise eats seeds and green plant parts. Reproduction can take place at any time of the year. A litter consists of up to four offspring.
swell
- Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Eds.): Mammal Species of the World . A taxonomic and geographic Reference . 3. Edition. 2 volumes. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 (English, Baiomys musculus ).
- Packard & Montgomery (1978): Baiomys musculus. In: Mammalian Species . No. 102, pp. 1-3.
- Baiomys musculus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2016 Posted by: Reid, F. & Vázquez, E., 2016. Accessed March 19, 2017th