''Neotoma leucodon'' is a species of rodent 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, and h ...

. 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 The white-throated woodrat (''Neotoma albigula'') is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found from central Mexico north to Utah and Colorado in the United States. It is primarily a western species in the United States, extending ...

(''Neotoma albigula''). Molecular data, however, indicate the populations east of the Rio Grande in

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...

and

Trans-Pecos The Trans-Pecos, as originally defined in 1887 by the Texas geologist Robert T. Hill, is the portion of Texas that lies west of the Pecos River. The term is considered synonymous with Far West Texas, a subdivision of West Texas. The Trans-Peco ...

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, and form an integral portion of their diets. In general, the data provided by Macedo and Mares (1988) for what was then thought to be a single species applies to both. Similar to other woodrats, the white-toothed woodrat gathers sticks and vegetation from its environment to build elaborate dens, which offer protection from predators and from the desert heat.

References

*Edwards, C. W., C. F. Fulhorst, and R. D. Bradley. 2001. Molecular phylogenetics of the ''Neotoma albigula'' species group: further evidence of a paraphyletic assemblage. Journal of Mammalogy 82:267-279. *Frey, J. K. 2004. Taxonomy and distribution of the mammals of New Mexico: An annotated checklist. Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University, no. 240:1-32. *Macedo, R. H., and M. A. Mares. 1988. Neotoma albigula. Mammalian Species, no. 310:1-7. *Planz, J. V., G. Zimmerman, T. A. Spradling, and D. R. Akins. 1996. Molecular phylogeny of the ''Neotoma floridana'' species group. Journal of Mammalogy 77:519-535. Neotoma Mammals of Mexico Fauna of the Southwestern United States Mammals described in 1894 Desert fauna Xerophiles {{Neotoma-stub