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Neotoma mexicana

Baird, 1855

Mexican Woodrat

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102682
Element CodeAMAFF08070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyCricetidae
GenusNeotoma
Other Common Names
Mexican woodrat (EN) Un Ratón (ES)
Concept Reference
Ordonez-Garza, N., C. W. Thompson, M. K. Unkefer, C. W. Edwards, J. G. Owen, and R. D. Bradley. 2014. Systematics of the Neotoma mexicana species group (Mammalia: Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Mesoamerica: new molecular evidence on the status and relationships of N. ferruginea Tomes, 1862. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 127(3):518-532.
Taxonomic Comments
Previously included Neotoma ferruginea from Mexico and Central America, and N. picta from Mexico (Ordonez-Garza et al. 2014).

Neotoma m. bullata is regarded as a synonym of N. m. mexicana (Hoffmeister 1986).
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-11-12
Change Date1996-11-12
Range Extent Comments
Southwestern United States (including southeastern Utah, Colorado, extreme western Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas) south through Mexico and Guatemala to El Salvador, and Honduras (populations in the southern extent of the range may prove to represent different species; Edwards and Bradley 2002). Elevational range: 15 m at Nayarit, Mexico, to 4,025 m on Volcan Tajumulco, Guatemala.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Mountainous areas; talus slopes, rock piles, and cliffs. Most often associated with open woodland and scrub vegetation. Dens are usually within crack or crevice among boulders, sometimes in hollow tree or abandoned building.

Reproduction

Breeds March-May in north (Colorado), produces 2 litters annually. Breeding season is longer in south (probably through September in Arizona) Gestation lasts 31-34 days (Cornely and Baker 1986). Average litter size is about 3.5 (2-5).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
OklahomaS2Yes
ArizonaS5Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
UtahS2Yes
Navajo NationS5Yes
TexasS4Yes
Roadless Areas (1)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
References (28)
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