Liomys salvini
SUBFAMILY
Heteromyinae
TAXONOMY
Heteromys salvini (Thomas, 1983), Guatemala.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Spanish: Ratón de monte.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Total length 8.3–11 in (210–280 mm); weight female 1.2–1.6 oz (35–45g), male 1.6–2.6 oz (45–75 g). Pelage is hispid consisting of stiff spines and soft hairs. Mixed dark brown hairs above, under parts buffy to white.
DISTRIBUTION
Pacific coastal lowlands of Oaxaca, Mexico to Costa Rica in Central America.
HABITAT
Lives in dry tropical forest.
BEHAVIOR
Hoards seeds in burrow; reproductive males move greater distances than females in breeding season. Less tolerant of conspecifics than Heteromys.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Prefers seeds of woody plants in dry forest and insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Limited to dry and early rainy season in Costa Rica with an average of 1.8 litters/year with 3.8 pups/litter.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Disperses seeds in its habitat.
