NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Jico Deermouse
Habromys simulatus (Osgood, 1904)
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The Jico deer mouse (Habromys simulatus), also known as the xico deermouse, is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae found only in Mexico. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist forests at altitudes between 1,830 and 2,000 metres (6,000 and 6,560 feet). It is a nocturnal, omnivorous, medium-sized species, measuring roughly 90 millimetres (3.5 inches) in length with a tail 78–111 mm (3.1–4.4 in) long. The fur on its belly is white, and on its back is dark brown. Around the metatarsal region of its feet, there are noticeable spots. The ears and tail are dark, though the latter may have a thin white line underneath, as well as a haired, brushy tip.
It is severely threatened by deforestation and human settlements within its range. Two populations of the Jico deer mouse were known, though one was thought to be extinct as of 2018, placing the total population of this species at 50 individuals. It resides in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, which has been described as "one of the most restricted habitats in [Mexico]".
Wikipedia contributors, Jico deer mouse; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T03:42:17.857803+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Habromys simulatus (Osgood, 1904)
- Name authority
- (Osgood, 1904)
- Common name
- Jico Deermouse
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Rodentia
- Family
- Cricetidae
- Genus
- Habromys
- Extinction status
- Recorded extant
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classMammalia Linnaeus, 1758
- subclassTheria Parker & Haswell, 1897
- infraclassEutheria Gill, 1872
- orderRodentia Bowdich, 1821
- suborderMyomorpha Brandt, 1855
- superfamilyMuroidea Illiger, 1811
- familyCricetidae Fischer, 1817
- subfamilyNeotominae Merriam, 1894
- genusHabromys Hooper & Musser, 1964
- speciesHabromys simulatus (Osgood, 1904)
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Habromys. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Chinanteco DeermouseHabromys chinanteco (Robertson & Musser, 1976) | CricetidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Slender-tailed Deer MouseHabromys lepturus (Merriam, 1898) | CricetidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Delicate DeermouseHabromys delicatulus Carleton, Sánchez & Urbano Vidales, 2002 | CricetidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Ixtlán DeermouseHabromys ixtlani (Goodwin, 1964) | CricetidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Crested-tailed Deer MouseHabromys lophurus (Osgood, 1904) | CricetidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633126 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:3J5KG. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.