Peromyscus mayensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	CRICETIDAE

Scientific Name:

Peromyscus mayensis

Species Authority:

Carleton & Huckaby, 1975

Common Name/s:

English

–

Maya Mouse, Mayan Deer Mouse

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Reid, F., Pérez, S., Woodman, N. & Matson, J.

Evaluator/s:

McKnight, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) & Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 km², its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, and the extent and quality of its habitat.

History:

1996

–

Endangered (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known only from the type locality and nearby vicinity (2,950 m) in the Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala, about 7 km northwest of Santa Eulalia, Yaiquich (Musser and Carleton 2005). It is found from 2,900 to 3,000 m.
Countries:	Native: Guatemala
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It is locally common in well-preserved forest, but not in deforested areas.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This mouse can be found in mature, highland forest, where it seems to be restricted to cold, wet oak forest with scattered pines, abundant epiphytes and fallen trees, and a deep layer of leaf litter (Reid 1997). Its biology is poorly known. It is terrestrial, and burrows through the leaf litter under and along decaying logs and tree roots. It appears to require a deep layer of litter, as it was not found in similar forest without deep litter at a slightly lower elevation (2,800 m). At 2,900 m, nightly frost slows decomposition of litter, while at 2,800 the litter layer is shallower due to warmer conditions (Reid 1997). Pregnant females were taken in May, with 1 to 3 embryos (mean of 1.8) (Carleton and Huckaby 1975). All individuals caught in December were nonreproductive (Reid 1997).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This mouse can be found in mature, highland forest, where it seems to be restricted to cold, wet oak forest with scattered pines, abundant epiphytes and fallen trees, and a deep layer of leaf litter (Reid 1997).

Its biology is poorly known. It is terrestrial, and burrows through the leaf litter under and along decaying logs and tree roots. It appears to require a deep layer of litter, as it was not found in similar forest without deep litter at a slightly lower elevation (2,800 m). At 2,900 m, nightly frost slows decomposition of litter, while at 2,800 the litter layer is shallower due to warmer conditions (Reid 1997). Pregnant females were taken in May, with 1 to 3 embryos (mean of 1.8) (Carleton and Huckaby 1975). All individuals caught in December were nonreproductive (Reid 1997).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This mouse is highly threatened due to intensive logging in its small known region of occurrence. Fire is also a potential threat because of the small size of its region of occurrence. Climate change and/or a strong El Niño year, either of which could dry out the area, are other potential threats as the species requires wet leaf litter.

Major Threat(s):

This mouse is highly threatened due to intensive logging in its small known region of occurrence. Fire is also a potential threat because of the small size of its region of occurrence. Climate change and/or a strong El Niño year, either of which could dry out the area, are other potential threats as the species requires wet leaf litter.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species occurs in the Sierra de Cuchumatanes National Park, however, this park is rapidly being cut down and is not well protected. The species would benefit from an increased level of protection of its forest habitat.

Conservation Actions:

This species occurs in the Sierra de Cuchumatanes National Park, however, this park is rapidly being cut down and is not well protected. The species would benefit from an increased level of protection of its forest habitat.

Citation:	Reid, F., Pérez, S., Woodman, N. & Matson, J. 2008. Peromyscus mayensis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 January 2009.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the Copyright and Data Disclaimer.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided