Peromyscus aztecus
Aztec mouse

Peromyscus aztecus occurs in the mid- to high elevations in many mountain ranges in the highlands of Mexico and Central America. Aztec mice have been found in southwestern Jalisco, Michoacan, and central Veracruz, through the volcanic belt. These mice are found in the Mexican States of Puebla, Morelos, Hidalgo, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Ciapas, as well as into Central America. (Vazquez, Cameron, and Medellin, 2001)

Aztec mice occur at elevations between 1,000 m to 2,700 m. Vegetation types in their habitat are variable, and dependon the location. In Michoacan, the vegetation consists of montane, boreal coniferous forests. In Jalisco, pine/oak habitat and cloud forest cover the area. In Guerrero, P. aztecus occupies the cloud, oak, and pine/oak habitat types. Juniper forests are the used area in volcanic regions. These rodents often occur in fields with poor cover and abandoned agricultural fields. (Vazquez, Cameron, and Medellin, 2001)

Peromyscus aztecus is a medium sized member of the genus Peromyscus. Individuals weigh between 22 and 36 g, and are from 197 to 260 mm in length. The fur is a pale ochre with black dorsally. The flanks are reddish, and the under parts are light buff. A black ring around the eye is present. The feet are white. The tail is bicolored with a white tip and is about as long as the body. Other measurements include: hind foot, 22.5 to 29 mm; ear, 15.5 to 21.5 mm; average length of skull, 33.3 mm; and the average size of the rostrum, 13.8 mm (Vazquez, Cameron, and Medellin, 2001)

In the wild, most individuals probably won't live past 2 years. The longest known record of longevity for Peromyscus in a laboratory is 8 years and 4 month (Peromyscus maniculatus). (Vazquez, Cameron, and Medellin, 2001)

Aztec mice exhibit a variety of behaviors. As far as locomotion, walk and run on all four feet. They have contralateral limbs in synchrony, as well as quadrupedal ricochet. This means the hind and forelimbs strike alternately. Peromyscus aztecus is known to swim when necessary. In swimming, these mice have strong alternate kicking with hindfeet. The forefeet paddle, which keeps the head above the water. (King, 1968)

While exploring, these mice are hesitant, prone to freeze, and move with a tense, elongate body posture. They sleep in their nest during daylight hours. Their head is curled up under their body, and the tail is curled around the feet. During rest, their body temperature falls to a steady 3 degrees Celsius below normal. They are not known to hibernate, but they may become torpid and hypothermic in extreme cold. To overcome this, they shiver and raise their metabolic rate. In nest building and burrowing, they dig and gnaw. (King, 1968)

Home Range

Peromyscus aztecus has a wide home range from 0.1 acres to 10.0 acres. (King, 1968)

Tactile communication is used when grooming as a friendly interaction, as well as during biting in defense and aggression. Chemical communication is usually related to marking behavior. This involves olfactory methods of recognition. Visual communication is less important in this species because of their nocturnal activity. However, body postures probably communicate intent when two animals meet. These animals can detect movement in little light and see short distances in the dark. (King, 1968)

The diet of P. aztecus consists of many different things depending on their location and time of year. In Guerrero, they eat primarily grasses and seeds. In Jalisco, they eat monocot seeds in the dry-hot and cold seasons, and then dicot leaves in the wet season. Some other forms of food for P. aztecus may include insects, and dicot fruits. (Vazquez, Cameron, and Medellin, 2001)

Possible predators of P. aztecus include barn owls (Tyto alba), coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcat (Lynx rufus), and weasels (Mustela frenata). Aztec mice avoid predation by blending into their habitat, or they may run into burrows or crevices. (Vazquez, Cameron, and Medellin, 2001)

Aztec mice serve as food for many different predators. One negative role that P. aztecus may play in relationship to the ecosystem is the fact that they may retard forest regeneration. They are a force of destruction to seeds, specifically coniferous seeds. (King, 1968)

There are many species of parasites that are found in relationship with the Peromyscus genus: pentastomids, acanthocephala, trematodes, cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes, mites, chiggers, ticks, fleas, lice, and diptera. Many of these parasites carry infectious diseases. Fleas may carry plague as well as typhus. (Nowak, 1995)

An important role that P. aztcus may play economically for humans is that they may be used for many genetic and physiological studies in labs. They are clean, live well in the lab, are easily fed, and their reproductive rate is very high. (Nowak, 1995)

Aztec mice are not listed by CITES or IUCN. (CITES, 2002; IUCN, 2002)

Currently, there are not a lot studies done on P. aztecus. The paper authored by Vazquez, et al., is a compilation of most of what is known about this species. (Vazquez, Cameron, and Medellin, 2001)