The southern pygmy mouse (''Baiomys musculus'') is a species of
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are roden ...
in the family
Cricetidae
The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At almost 608 species, it is the second-largest family of mammals, a ...
.
It is found in
El Salvador
El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by ...
,
Guatemala,
Honduras,
Mexico
Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...
, and
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to ...
.
Habitat
Coastal animals are larger on average. They prefer open canopy areas with grasses and less dead wood or bare ground. In general they are found in open areas with thick low vegetation. They are also found in rocky areas.
Description
The outer coat of the southern pygmy mouse varies from a reddish brown to almost black. The under belly is lighter in tone than the back ranging from pinkish buff to white. Juveniles are born with a gray coat that slowly turns brown as they mature.
Uncharacteristically of other members in the family Cricetidae they have 14 cheek teeth instead of 12.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs year-round but rates are not constant throughout the year. During the winter and spring there are fewer litters born. Individuals living in grassy areas dig burrows for nesting while others in rocky areas live under rocks.
Synonyms:
*''Baiomys brunneus'' (J. A. Allen and Chapman, 1897)
*''Baiomys nigrescens'' (Osgood, 1904)
*''Baiomys grisescens'' (Goldman, 1932)
*''Baiomys infernatis'' (Hooper, 1952)
*''Baiomys pallidus'' (Russell, 1952)
*''Baiomys handleyi'' (Packard, 1958)
*''Baiomys pullus'' (Packard, 1958)
*''Baiomys nebulosus'' (Goodwin, 1959)
References
* Baillie, J. 1996.
Baiomys musculus 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007.
*Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 ''in'' Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Baiomys
Mammals described in 1892
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
Taxa named by Clinton Hart Merriam
{{Cricetidae-stub