Mexican woodrat

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Mexican woodrat
Neotoma mexicana mexicana.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Neotominae
Genus: Neotoma
Species:
N. mexicana
Binomial name
Neotoma mexicana
Baird, 1855

The Mexican woodrat (Neotoma mexicana) is a medium-sized pack rat.

Distribution and habitat

It ranges from the United States (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and parts of Arizona and Trans-Pecos Texas) south to Honduras. Although occurring at lower elevations during the Pleistocene, it generally is limited now to highlands supporting open coniferous forests or woodlands. In a few places, it occurs in lower country where lava or boulder fields occur; presumably the presence of spaces extending far below the surface enables survival. Like most members of the genus living in rocky areas, dens tend to take advantage of crevices, rock shelters, and caves; stick nests are relatively rare.

Taxonomy

The type locality is near Chihuahua, Mexico. Some 26 species names have been applied to populations of the Mexican woodrat and are now considered synonyms.

Description and diet

The animal averages a bit over 300 mm in total length and weighs 140 to 185 g. Their diets tend to be generalist, with a wide variety of berries, vegetation, nuts, acorns, and fungi, though foliage seems to make up the major food class.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldman's woodrat</span> Species of rodent

Goldman's woodrat is a rodent species in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico throughout the Mexican Plateau, stretching from southeastern Chihuahua to southern San Luis Potosí and northern Querétaro. The plateau is an average 5,988 ft. above sea level and covers a land area of 232,388 sq. miles.

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References

  1. Linzey, A.V.; Matson, J. & Pérez, S. (2008). "Neotoma mexicana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2010.