MAMMALIAN SPECIES wo. 285, pp. 1-7, 3 fies Baiomys taylori. By Bruce D. Eshelman and Guy N. Cameron Published 12 August 1987 by The American Society of Mammalogists Baiomys True, 1894 Baiomys True, 1894:758, Type species Hesperomys (Vesperomys) taylori Thomas. CONTEXT AND CONTENT. Order Rodentia, Suborder Myoniorpha, Family Moridae, Subfamily Sigmodontinac (Carleton and Muser, 1988). The genus contains two species. A key 10 the ‘genus follows (adapted from Packard, 1960 and Hall, 1981): 1 Longitudinal, dorsal outline ofthe skull evenly convex; en ‘oglosal process of the bsibyal pointed and directed an tersorly; body of incus fattened, short process koobshaped forbislar apophysis of malleus round to oblong: baculir rounded at tip, 3.0 to 3.9 mm long... Be musculus 1 Longitudinal, doral outline ofthe skull aot evenly convex. (Cutline anteriorly deflected ventrally from frontoparietal suturek entoglossal process of the baihyal rounded or absent: orbicular apophyss of malleus rounded to ovoid: Tneulum notched atthe tp and less then 2.9 mam long Butaylori Baiomys taylori (Thomas, 1887) Northern Pygmy Mouse Hesperomys Vesperimus)taylori Thomas, 188766. Type locality ‘San Diego, Duval Co. erat. Peromyscus paulus | A Allen, 1903:598. Type locality Rio Sestin, northwestern Durango. Peromyscus allex Osgood, 1904.76. Type locality Colima, Colima. oiomys taylor Mearns, 1907-381; frst use of name comnation CONTEXT AND CONTENT. Context noted in generic summary above. The following eight subspecies were recogniae by Hall (1981). Bt allex Osgood, 1904:76, see above Bt analogus Osgood, 1909:256. Type locality Zamora, Michoo- £B. -ater Blossom and Burt, 1942:2. Type locality 7 mi W Hereford, Cochise Cow Arizona Bt, canurus Packard, 1960:643. Type locety 1 mi $ Pecos, Sinalos. B.t,fuliginatus Packard, 1960:645. Type locality 2 mi Ny 10 mi E Ciudad del Maz, 4,000 f, Sen Luis Potosi B. «, paulus J. A. Allen, 1903:598, see above B. t. Subater V. Bailey. 1905:102, Type locality Bernard Creek, ‘near Columbia, Brazoria Co,, Texas B. t taylori Thomas, 1887-66, see above. DIAGNOSIS. Baiomys taylor (Fig. 1) i the smaller ofthe two ving species of pygmy mice and isthe smallest North American ‘rodent (Packard, 1960). Tota leagth ranges from 87 to 123 mm. B. taylor is distinguished from B. musculus by a hind fot length of less than 16 mim, cecipitonasal length less than 19mm, and 2ygomatic breadth las than 10 mun. The rostrum of B. taylor (ig 2) is deflected ventrally at the frontoparetal nature rather then dually curving toward the anterirmost point of the nasals (Pack: 4, 1960). The dental formula is 1/1, ¢ 0/0, p 0/0, m 3/3, total 16, Molars of B, taylor are rore hypsodont than thoce of B ‘musculus and the cingular ridges and secondary cusps ofthe teeth ‘are reduced or absent (Packard, 1960; Packaed and Montgomery, 1978). The estoglossal process of the basihyal is much reduced oF absent (Packard, 1960; Hall, 1981). The baculum is narzow, has ‘a notched tip, and usually less than 2.9 mur in length (Blair 1042; Hal, 1981). The short processes of the incus are attenuated (Peck: ard, 1960: Hall, 1981). GENERAL CHARACTERS, Average adut body mass of B. taylori is 6 to 9.5. (Hudson, 1965). A weighted average (ubspecies combined) of data provided in Packard (1960) yields ‘means and ranges (in parentheses) forthe following external mes surements (in mm for adults: total length, 106.3 (87 to 123) length ‘of tal vertebrae, 42 (34 to 53} body length, 64.1 (53 to 76} length of hind foot, 13.5 (12 to 15): length of ear from notch, 10.8 (9 10 12), Sexual dimorphism bas not been reporied for measured char- acters (Packard, 1960). Individuals from populations in northern portions of the range or higher elevations have larger external ‘measurements than counterparts inthe south ort lower altitudes (Packard, 1960) ‘Smlarly derived means and ranges (in parentheses) for cranial _messuremats (in mm) are: oeiptonasl lng, 18.1 (16.8 to 19.4) ygornatic breadth, 9.5 (8.7 to 10.2} postpalatal length, 6.6 (5.9 1 7.3 least interrbial breadth, 3.5 (3.3 t 3.9: length of incisive i 4.0 (35 to 4.3) length of rostrum, 6.1 (5.2 10 6.8): breadth of braincase, 8.7 (8.0 to 9.1) depth of cranium, 6.0 (6.0 107-0} and alveolar length of mexilsy toth row, 3.2 (3.1 to 3.4). ueniles are wiformly gray above and lighter below (Packard, 1960). The dora plage of adults varies fom reddish brown, through {ray to almort blac above apd white to creamy buff or gray below ‘The tal is covered with short hairs. Color of tal dfers among subspecies and may be uniformly grey or biolored lighter ventrally} DISTRIBUTION. The southern lit of ch geogrephic range of B. taylor (Fig. 3) isin centeal Mexico (approximately 19°N) and extends north in three projections (Hal, 1981; Packard, 1900), The ‘western projection extends slog the west coast of Meco southern Sonera, A ruiddle projection extends northwest through Durango nd Chibushia and reaches its northern limit in southeastern Ar ona. The eastern projection extends from central Mexico, north to central Texas, and east along the Texas coast. Recent range ex- pansions (Fig. 3) have occurred toward the Oklahoma border (Cok: fender et a, 1979), and northwest and west onto the Texas High Plains (Dieesing and Diersing, 1979; Stangl et al, 1983), FOSSIL RECORD. Seven fossil species have been deseribed forthe genus (Gidley, 1923; Hibbard, 1953: Packard, 1960; Pack- ard and Alvarez, 1965; Zakracweki, 1969), According to Hibbard Fic. 1. ‘The northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori taylor).Fic. 2. Dorsal, ventral, and lateral views ofthe cranium and lateral view of mandible of B. taylori. (Sell from the Texas Co- operative Wilde Collection, Texas A&M Univer) Greatest length of skal is 18.8 som, (1953), the genus arose in the Blancan Land-Mammal Age of the Tate Pliocene. The oldest of the species seoms to have been B. sewrockenss from Saw Rock Canyon, Seward Co.. Kansas (early late Plocene) Type specimens of B. minimus and B. brackygnathus ace from the late Pliocene and midPlistocene, respectively, of Co thie Co., Arizona (Cazin, 1942: Hibbard, 1958). B. minimus alo {stepresented in the Wolf Ranch fauna (Pliocene), San Pero Vale, Ariana (Harrison, 1978), B.rexrondi and B. Kobi both were found in the Rexroad formation ofthe upper Pliocene in Meade Co, Kansas (Hibbard, 1953). 8. rexroadi abo was present in the Beck Ranch fauna of the Blancan Age (Dalquest, 1978), Packard and Alvarez (1965) described B. intermedia’ from late Plesioeene excavations rear Tainepartla, sate of Mexico, Mexico, Zakraewski (1969) de ‘eribed B. aquilonius from the Hagerman local fauna (Pliocene) of aho, This foe species represents the most northern occurrence ofthe genus, Jaw structure of B. aguiloniue most closely resembles MAMMALIAN SPECIES 285 Fic. 3. Geographic distribution of B. taylori (after Hall, 1981), Closed circles indicate range extensions described in text. Bt alles: 2, Bt. analogus, 3, Bt ater: 4, B. 1 canutus, 5 Bc fidignatus: 6, B. 1. paulus; 7, Bt subater; 8, B. 1 taylor. thatof B. rexroadi. Packard (1960) an Packard end Alvarez (1965) concluded that B. taylori most ikely was derived from a B, sow Fockensis-B. minimis. imermedius-B. musculus line and split from. musculus the mkdPlestocene. These authors also proposed central Mexico asthe center of speciation for the genue and con silezed B. tayforithe more recent of the iving species, Fos remains ‘of B. taylor’ were idemifed from the Pleistocene faunas of Schulae Cave, Edvards Co., Texas (Dalguest etal, 1969) and Cueva Que brade, Val Verde Co., Texas (Lundelivs, 1984), FORM. Felage color of 8, taylori varies widely among the subspecies (Packard, 1960). The fist evidence of ostjuvenal melt is presence of bright brownish hairs on the head at 38 to 46 ‘of age (Blix, 1941; Packard, 1960). Sequence ofthe mole Packard, 1960) i stler to that reported for Peromyscus (Calins, 1918, 1924; Hoffmeister, 1951)- Poatuvenal molt is complete at 60 to 74 days (Bla, 1941; Packaed, 1960). Duration of the molt is similar to that reported for Reithrodontomys (Layne, 1959). Adult pygmy mice molt during all months ofthe yea: however, the annual tool usually starts at the begining of the rainy season. This molt Ibegine anteriorly and proceeds posteriorly over the back (Packard, 1900), The pelage of a melanistic individual contained longer and fier hairs than “normal” animals of the same cex and age (Packed, 1960, ‘The rosrum anterior to the feontonasal suture typically is defected ventrally 3 0 5° (Packerd, 1960} The shape ofthe bsihyal is particularly urelul in discriminating between B. taylor’ and B. musculus. The entoglosal process pounts anteriorly in B. musculus {nd i rounded or abwent in B. taylor Meat length ofthe bsihyal {s 2.18 mm and its shoulders are fattened. The hypobyal remain Aistnet througout Me, The body of the incu is round and the short process is attenuated sides ofthe long limb ace neatly parallel. The Inallus posseses around to nearly ovo orbicular apophyis. The anterior provese it pointed, the neck short and slghuy recurved. Sides of the stapes are bowed and the muscular process i reduced ‘Wet weight of skeletal muscle mass is 24% of the total body sass (Hudecki end Peivitera, 1975). Hudson (1965, 1967) found heart weight to he 43 t0 49'mg, B. taylor posesses a unilocuar Ipeglandular stomach considered the peimitive condition, @ co dion found in most of the South American ericetines (Carleton, 1973), Zimney et al. (1969) reported the pyemy mouse kidneyMAMMALIAN SPECIES 285 cerained 42% more glycogen and 33% more inorganic phosphate than laboratory mice. Blood caleam is 50% less than in sbertary rive (Zimey tah, 1969). ‘The lengh ofthe baclim averages 2.58 man (Packard, 1960) sa its greatest inal with i 0.5m Bl, 1941), Th shat of| the bactlum of B. taylor! sigueany ahoter and thinner than thae of B. musculus (Packard, 1950; Packard aod Mostgonery, 1978), In aditon, the esl wings projet dorsolateral anteriorly (Packard, 1960). The glans simple having only one hone sod spongy vascular layers that extend through most of| iste looper and Musser, 1968), Hoope (1959) describe he flane as bell or urn shaped with «length tnd Gamer of 37 and 1.9mm, respectively. Te glans covered wth smal spines that pent prousmal Fie male accowory lands ofthe northern pygmy movse are similar to thowe of peromyecnes and South Auercan ercetios however only ove prof ventral prostates (3 by 3 mun) are present in B taylan (Arata, 1964; Vou nd Liey, 1981). The ampalery and is nal thas the typical condition wth the ndviual abu {ements unconaccted andes than Lm lng. The veseular glands (oy 2 ab ae eed al hy ered he tip. Aner are about 4 mim long. A Single pair of pre this metering shot by 2 mm te grcot aig thse of the glans. Batomys, Ochrotomys, and Onychomys are the only ads in conjunction with the szple FUNCTION. The gral physlgy ofthe pygmy movse ns een rebel wel sed besa of mal erp tig and sdapy to braory sarrnnents Te sale ‘fost mente eile outbl for nvereations Of cease an Secon of tamer (1963) fn erates tyr vce 90 bate? mina 37 apd 756 bata t 13% rng sal esing ac racy pho a snesated stoke ve of 1h beat soi ria opt oS ma ory ats fran ctv animal ange fom 100 t0 264 tlie/adh Cranbece temperatures of 33 and 13°C, respec- Set Average tate of yeas amen pesos f° 30 to 35C B 195 mi of Ong! h. Dy tae of cles telniges Hudson (1965) determined asin onygen uptake of outa, grt acu saint temperturee Ke thn 10% Ava of 12.30 O.g* hat DC wa seared by Rowena thd Moriuon (1974) by isa a'«heonygen techogue, Sere ‘rman e (1981) ato produced sgafcanly Reger Oy pak ‘ahs om B. tater onan encee enl “The average bly temperate of retin ama 32 10 36% tod sveage heal nds 040 4B ml ge hee {Gy 1965) The ternal neutral soe of ee ace ranged frm 2910 20 Feiomgs too exdly enters hallo torpor a ambit en. seraures near SMC” Bay tnperte dig te ote 23 BSAC Uae ard rte 197% Haun 1965) I boty tome pratt dopped bl 22°, aia could tothe sous hou laure acre heat. Encence ito torpor coor by ert temperature. Average Ste slaped ioe ering torpor Se Tea inh ak maa 200 98 1, Tepectively Gluhon, 1963), Length of tepor was variate 1d Inlvenad by aout of food anwar avalos en Story and by sabre tanpertare tiesto Pitre 1972, bts; don, 1965; Ziney os, 1960, Huson (1908) Cree a naam duaton of 20 & of torpor forsale ‘anand st sient tenperatres of 20. Hea aoed at ‘hima tat eotered ororspontanesy ame! temperatures F307 seed wher set empuratre decreas. A inesese Satine tenpertare oft SX cet snl, Decersng Sie wepeatre fora nae at MC ot ie Sine atonal Heart rates of trp animals at 205°C were 108 Nout and eat wre sippel fran. An abet temper ara of 18540 piled s bea ato 78 beat ring po. ile espa rat ern ego 12 beta 7 ge ineracapalr tie of bev ape tue i prevent in norte pygmy nice: hever, ther brown and we at ape tre tine (HadeeKi and Pivcra, 1972, 1973) Thee edn indicated hat ih oxpoure 1o 15 cto changes ia rown apse tir: Athoug he nal ere il acveeveogen and Gp paves decreed and mocha weling octet Yl Cake 200% increase in mitochon wea of own ft. A 3 significant deecease in lipid content was noted duting torpor. Tri: alycerdes were considered the main source of energy for torpor During arousal froma torpor, smal to meiunsized lipid vac ‘oles reappeared in hrown fat tissue (Hudecki and Privitera, 1972). art rees during arousal were as high as 800 beats/min, resp. from 60 te 200 breaths/min, and metabolic (97 times above baal (Hudson, 1965). The period per flutes of 26°C and wos coincident wth shivering, In general, arousal ‘was slow for an animal of this sie. ONTOGENY AND REPRODUCTION. ‘Toe. northern breeds year-round with reproductive peaks inthe late spring (Asdel, 1968: Dlr, 1941; Packard, 1960; aun and Wilks, 1964). Bai (1941) reported an average of 27.6 days betwen liters for sx breeding prs in the laboratory. Delayed implantation has been reported for B. taylori (Quedagno et a, 1970} and is equal to approxitately 2 days for each pup nursed tha coneursent pregnancy. The gestation period w 200 23 days (Glsi, 1941; Hudson, 1974; Quay etal 1970), Average birth ‘weight 1.1 wo 1.2 ¢ (Blair, 1941; Hudson, 1974; Morison eta 197 7a) and liter size ranges from I to 5 with an average near 2.5, 1941; Morrison etal, 1976; Packard, 1960: Quadagno et 70; Raun and. Wiks, 1964). Captive females weaned an average of 2.2 young per iter (Morrison etal, 1976) Neonates are naked and pink at bith and become darkly pigmented within the fist day. The eyes ofthe young are closed at Eth and open at 12 10 18 days (Hl, 1941) The incors are erupted at arth (Quadagno and Banks, 1970), Packard (1960) found Sill sutures cloed at spproximately 50 days of age. Shorly after birth the young attach to the mantmae of the tother and only become detached at night whle the mother forages (Quadagno and Banks, 1970; Raum and Wilks, 1963). ‘Young are weened at 17 to 24 days Biir, 1941; Packard, 1960; Qualagno and Barks, 1970). Youngest age ofa female at conception was reported as 28 (Huson, 1974) aa! 4 days (Blair, 1941}, Blair (1941) reported an average age of females at sexual ratunty of 61.5 days. Quadagno etal (1970) found that males sed sexual maturity between 70 and 80 days of age and females Between 60 and 90 days ‘Growth of B. taylor follows a sigmoidal pattem ands primarily within the frst 35 days of age (Hludson, 1974). The frst phase of ‘ronth (0 10-11 days) yield instantaneous growth rates of 7.29 10 5.30% of holy mase/day. First increase in metabolic rate in 1 co is ecncident wih the aity to crawl (5 days), approximately 1 mm of underur i» present (Chew aod Spencer, 1967), The later authors concluded that movement is necenery for niniial homeothermie response, Additonal. «minimum iy site ‘of 24 g must be attained, regardless of age, before complete ther- Tmoregulatory eapabiity is reached, The second phase of growth ‘ceurs fom 11 40 17 days of age and produces instantaneous growth {her of 3.340% bly se/dy ko, 1974, Ag oe nd by 50 days of age (Blair, 1941) and litle addition to the age of 20 weeks (Morrison etal 1977). tio of the second phase of growth coincident wth the fall develonen ‘20°C unt 5 to 8 days old (Chew and Spencer, 1967). ‘apabiity to maintain adult body temperatures (36 to 37°C) at ambient tem es of 30°C is reached at 10 10 15, 1974). “Hudson (1974) four no relationship between iter sive (range 1 te 5) and growth eate of young, but postpartim pregnancy seemed to delay development. Liter sive is not correlated with age at which ‘adult body temperature is reached ‘The northern pygmy mouse is polystrous (Blair, 1941). Du ration of the average estrous eyele is approximately 7.5 days (Hud son, 1974; Quadayno etal, 1970). Average duration of tages of the eycle was reported as: proetrous, 12 hz estrus, 24 hs metesrus, ‘38h; and diestrus, 96 b(Quadagno etal, 1070). Frequent examples of pospartam estrus have been recorded (Hudson, 1974), 4 Ddlay study, Stickel end Stickel (1049) summer densities at approximately 17 o 19.57, Other ange ftom 2 to 84 mice ha (Grant et al, 1985; Petersen, ‘oT5: Rain and Wilks, 1964; Schmidly, 1983). Schmaly (1983) reported that populations in ol Ges were stable at 2/ha;unmowed highway rightaf-way contained higher but more variable densities days of age Hudson,4 (1 to 15/ha}, Densities were lowest during the summer months During 2 2.5.year study, densities were 12.3 1037 mice/ba (Raun and Wilks, 1964). Grant eta. (1985) calculated densities of 6 to 14 mice/ba in old Beltpostoak savanna habitat in eastern Texas uring 2 G-year study. Grant et al (1985) and Raun and Wilks (1964) found lowest densities during arly summer months (My Jue) ad highest densities in early fall and winter. Sex rato of the population studied by Raun and Wilks (1964) was 1-1 and adults ‘composed 75% of the population, Forty-five percent of marked adults ‘were present for at least 2 months; 10% for 5 months; and 5% remained after 7 months, Mean survival for this natural population ‘was 5 months, including period of time for development and poor raat of young mice because of ther small ie, Longest kaon survival ofa marked individual in the ed was 59 weaks. Morrison et al. (1977) reported modian life span of 23 ‘weeks and a snaxinum lif span of 170 weeks for hboratory-eared animals. Neonatal mortality is reported as 4.8% at | week of age {nd 19.5% at | month of age for laboratoryeared animal (Mortison tal, 1977), Morrison et sl. (19775) soggested a two-stage sareval la period of reduced mortality between 50 ant 70 weeks ‘Sherman live traps or snap traps were equally successful in capturing B. taylori Powell, 1968) and pitfall traps were less ef fective for capturing theve mice (Petersen, 1980). Baiomys taylor’ occurs in «wide variety of habitats, including and Chand studies ‘on the primitive karyotype for Reithrodontomys. J. Maa, 61:708-714. Rosexusns, M., 3X0 P. Morniox. 1974, Maximum oxygen ‘consumption and heat los facilitation in small homeotherms by HesO,, Amer. J. Physol, 226:400-495, ‘Scanupty, D. J, 1983.” Texas mammals eat ofthe Balcones fault ‘one. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, 900 po. Stramiotsy, H. J. Er AL. 1981, ton assem. Mewsring aiman Respiration Physiol, 4411-23. Staci, F-B. JR. BF Koor, sNDC.S, Hoop, 1983. Occurrence ‘of Baiomys taylori (Rodentia: Cricetilae) on the Texas high plains. Occas, Papers Mis, Texas Tech, Univ 85:14 Sexi, L. Fy axo W. H, Sricktt. 1949. A Sigmodon end ‘Beaiomys population in ungeazed and unburned Texas prairie. J. Maram, 30:141-150. Tworiss, 0.” 1887, Diagnosis of a new species of Hesperomys from North America. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist ser. 5, 19:66, 1868, On the small mammals of Duval County, cout Texas, Proc. Zoo. Soc. London, pp. 443-450. ‘Taur, FW. 1806, On the relationships of Taylor's mouse Stomys taylor. Proe. US. Nat, Mus., 16:757-758. Twentt,J.W.,axDR.H.BakeR. 1951. New seconds of mammals from Jasco, Mexico, rom baen owl pellets. J. Mamm, 32: 120-121, Vos, B.S, aND A. V. LINZEY. 1981. Comparative gross mo ‘phology of male accessory glands among Neotropical Murida (Memmelise Rodentia) with comments on systematic implice- Sons, Mise. Publ. Mus. Zool, Univ. Michigan, 159:1-41 INS, K. T1982, Highways as harriers to rodent dispersal: Southwestern Nat, 27:459-460. ‘Wunsos,R-C. Tat. 1976. Opened bebavior in murid rodents. Behav. Biol, 17:495-506. Yorss, T.L, RUT. Bake, avo RK. Baavsrr. 1979. Phylo: fgnetic analysis of karyological variation in three genera of Peromyscine rodents. Syst. Zool, 28:40-48. Zaxuzewskt, RJ. 1969. The codents from the Hagerman local Design of the masnmalign res bie capacity(MAMMALIAN SPECIES 285, fauna, upper Piocene of Litho, Cont. Mus. Paleontel., Univ. Michigan, 25:1-36, Zissy, M. Ley T. HICKMAN, AND T. LaNbos, 1969. Inteanito- ‘chondrial accumulations inthe kidney of the pyemy mouse. ‘Anat, Rec, 165:291-292, 7 Bitors of this account were SYDNEY ANDERSON and B. J. VERTS. Managing elitor was CaRuetow J. Panes B,D. Esitiaay ano G. N, Cawexon, Drraeraet oF Bro.ooy, Usiversiry oF Hocstox, Houston, Tras 77004.