Slender harvest mouse
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SPECIES
Reithrodontomys gracilis

The slender harvest mouse(Reithrodontomys gracilis ) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. A small mouse-like rodent distributed throughout a portion Central America.

Appearance

The slender harvest mouse has short pale pelage. Upper areas and back appearing somewhat darker than their under sides which vary from a pinkish cinnamon color to tawny, orange, or white. Ears are brown or black with little pelage. The coloration of the feet may vary seasonally and geographically. Their tails are slender and scaly with scattered hairs and may be bicolored to clove brown.

Distribution

Geography

The slender harvest mouse can be found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. General distribution is in elevations from sea level to near 1,400 meters from southern Mexico in the Yucatán Peninsula to northwestern Costa Rica. Populations favor semiarid and arid areas with apparent ground cover, from tropical evergreen and deciduous forests to cactus covered desert areas. Never reported as common and no well published estimated of numbers. It is notable that this species is also somewhat scansorial, being found on cliffs, in trees, and among roots.

Mating Habits

Very little is known of the slender harvest mouse's reproduction. Litter sizes seems to range from 2 to 4, but three being average. The reproductive season is likely extended from late winter to mid-autumn.

References

1. Slender harvest mouse Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender_harvest_mouse
2. Slender harvest mouse on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19408/115150933

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