White-toothed Woodrat

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White-toothed Woodrat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae Genus: Neotoma Subgenus: Neotoma Species: N. leucodon
Binomial name
Neotoma leucodon Merriam, 1894

Although originally named from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, as a species by Merriam, the White-toothed Woodrat was long considered to be a synonym of the White-throated Woodrat (Neotoma albigula). Molecular data, however, indicate that populations east of the Rio Grande in New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas represent a different species than morphologically similar populations west of the river.

The habitat preferences of the two species appear similar, with woodland to desert habitats preferred. Almost invariably, cacti, especially cholla and prickly pear (Opuntia), are present. In general, the data provided by Macedo and Mares (1988) for what was then thought to be a single species applies to both.

[edit] References

• Edwards, C. W., C. F. Fulhorst, and R. D. Bradley. 2001. Molecular phylogenetics of the Neotoma albigula species group: further evidence of a paraphyletic assemblage. Journal of Mammalogy 82:267-279.
• Frey, J. K. 2004. Taxonomy and distribution of the mammals of New Mexico: An annotated checklist. Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University, no. 240:1-32.
• Macedo, R. H., and M. A. Mares. 1988. Neotoma albigula. Mammalian Species, no. 310:1-7.
• Planz, J. V., G. Zimmerman, T. A. Spradling, and D. R. Akins. 1996. Molecular phylogeny of the Neotoma floridana species group. Journal of Mammalogy 77:519-535.