The Crested-tailed Deermouse has a tail topped with a tuft of hair longer and denser than that of other members of its genus—a crest that gives the species its common name and distinguishes it at a glance from its smooth-tailed relatives. It inhabits the mountains of Chiapas and the neighbouring highlands of Guatemala. This range is broader than that of most of its close relatives, almost all of which are confined to a single mountain in Oaxaca. Like the rest of its genus, it is an agile climber moving through dense understorey vegetation in cloud forest and mountain pine-oak forest, aided by a long, prehensile tail. Its slightly wider distribution explains why its conservation status, though delicate, is somewhat less critical than that of several sister species.
Small rodent with greyish-brown fur on the upperparts and paler underparts, large, prominent eyes, well-developed ears, and a long prehensile tail topped with a tuft of hair longer and denser than in other species of the genus. The Crested-tailed Deermouse is distinguished from other Mesoamerican climbing mice precisely by this more developed caudal tuft, as well as by its distribution in Chiapas and Guatemala.
Small tracks and signs. Track small, 1.5-2 cm, with 4 fore toes and 5 hind toes, rarely visible given its climbing habits. Small, elongated droppings 4-6 mm long, left scattered amongst low vegetation and raised leaf litter in the understorey. Builds spherical nests of grass and moss in dense vegetation or tree hollows above ground level, typical of the cloud forest and pine-oak forest it inhabits.
Cloud forest and mountain pine-oak forest with dense understorey, generally between 1500 and 3000 m altitude. Distributed across the mountains of Chiapas, in southern Mexico, and the neighbouring highlands of Guatemala.
Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, fruit, fungi and understorey invertebrates, while also taking advantage of resources available amongst raised epiphytic vegetation.
Arboreal and climbing, the Crested-tailed Deermouse moves through low and raised understorey vegetation aided by its prehensile tail. It is probably nocturnal, with poorly documented solitary behaviour.
Populations are considered in decline due to the ongoing loss of the cloud and pine-oak forest on which it depends. However, its situation is somewhat less critical than that of other sister species with more restricted distributions, thanks to its slightly broader range across Chiapas and Guatemala.
Deforestation and mountain forest fragmentation caused by agricultural and livestock expansion in Chiapas and Guatemala, along with climate-change-driven altitudinal shifts in the humidity conditions necessary for this ecosystem.
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