Heteromys spectabilis
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Heteromyidae
Heteromys
Heteromys spectabilis

description: 4.
Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mouse
Heteromys spectabilis
French: Souris-a-ajaboues du Jalisco / German: Jalisco-Stacheltaschenmaus / Spanish: Ratén espinoso de Jalisco
Taxonomy. Liomys spectabilis Genoways, 1971,
2 mi NE Contla, 3,850 ft, Jalisco, Mexico.
In 2007, J. C. Hafner and colleagues confirmed paraphyly of Liomys relative to Heteromys, so they placed Liomys in synonymy with Heteromys. This species (formerly Liomys spectabilis) forms a distinct clade within the genus along with H. irroratus and H. pictus. In areas of sympatry or potential sympatry, H. spectabilis is distinguished from the other two species by its larger size. Monotypic.
Distribution. WC Mexico (SE Jalisco).
Descriptive notes. Head-body mean 109 mm (males) and 102 mm (females), tail mean 143 mm (males) and 123 mm (females), ear mean 17 mm, hindfoot mean 31 mm; weight 65 g. Male Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mice are significantly larger than females. It is scansorial and small-sized for the genus, with coarse adult pelage having abundantstiff, flattened spine-like hairs on dorsal and lateral surfaces of body. Upper parts are reddish brown, with an ocherouslateral line, and belly is white. Hairs on back are not curled upward so as to be conspicuous above spines. Posterior parts of soles of hindfeet are sparsely haired, with six plantar tubercles; claw of second digit on hindfootis spoon-like, apparently an adaptation for digging. Tail is moderately haired and darker on upper part. Cheekteeth have medium-high crowns, and lower premolar has two lophids. Auditory bullae are only moderately inflated. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 48 and FN = 64.
Habitat. Xerophytic pine-oak forest at elevations of 960-1615 m. Current agriculture has greatly modified the landscape, and the typical habitat of the Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mouse now consists of weeds, low brush, cornfields, grass, and scattered trees, sometimes in the immediate vicinity of highways.
Food and Feeding. There is no information available for this species.
Breeding. There is no information available for this species, but the Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mouse probably breeds throughout the year.
Activity patterns. The Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mouse is nocturnal and active throughout the year.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species, but the Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mouse is likely solitary, and its mating system is probably promiscuous or effectively polygynous.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List (as Liomys spectabilis). The Jaliscan Spiny Pocket Mouse has a small distribution that is subject to increasing habitat disruption and fragmentation.
Bibliography. Alvarez-Castaneda, Castro-Arellano & Vazquez (2008), Best (1993a), Ceballos & Oliva (2005), Dominguez-Castellanos & Ortega (2003), Genoways (1973), Hafner et al. (2007), Williams et al. (1993).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Heteromyidae, pp. 170-233 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on page 196, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6611160