It is a small field rat for its genre, much smaller than most Mexican forest rats, which lives hidden between volcanic rock blocks of the high lands of central Mexico. It is sheltered and nested among the cracks of those stone rats, a very specific habitat that protects it from predators and extreme temperatures of the central plateau. Its name pays tribute to the same American naturalist who gives name to other several species of small Mexican mammals documented at the beginning of the 20th century. It is one of the worst known Mexican rodent species of all, with very few records confirmed in the last decades despite recent efforts to locate new populations.
Small rodent for its species, notably smaller than other Mexican field rats, gray brown fur, relatively large eyes and ears, and moderately long tail. It differs from other field rats in the region by its much smaller size and by its strict association with volcanic rock rocks from the central highlands of Mexico.
Small footprint, 1.5-2 cm, with 4 front fingers and 5 rear fingers. Small, lengthy excrete, 5-7 mm, left in small heaps between the rock cracks where it is sheltered. Build nests of grass and dry plant material hidden between volcanic rock blocks, with accumulations of rotted vegetable remains alongside the most used entry cracks.
Volcanic rock pedestal in groves and mountain coniferous forest areas, generally between 2000 and 3000 m of altitude.
Herbivorous, it feeds on seeds, leaves and tender stems from the mattress vegetation and coniferous forest close to the stones where it lives.
Solitary and of habits very associated with the cracks of volcanic rock where it is sheltered, with a poorly documented behavior given the scarcity of field records.
Its fragmented distribution and the scarcity of recent confirmed records suggest small and scattered populations, with a declining situation associated with the degradation of the volcanic stone habitat it depends on.
Degradation of volcanic rocky habitat by urban and agricultural expansion in the highlands of central Mexico, and the growing fragmentation among the different known populations.
See all species accounts for rodents · Full species index
Mammaling is a free app for logging the mammals you find. You record a sighting in a moment — even if it's just a track — your life list grows, and the record becomes available to scientific and conservation projects.
It runs on your phone with nothing to install. If you like, it adds to your home screen like any other app.
Open Mammaling