Posted by:
Terry Cox
at Mon Sep 13 21:00:57 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Terry Cox ]
Steve,
Sorry about that first post. I accidentally hit the post button..duhhh!
I assume you are inviting speculation here. Let me just say that microhabitats are important, as well as activity periods. For instance, Baird's rats may be more active during humid or rainy times and in more moist microhabitats, like wooded ravines, etc. I might also add that evolutionary history is important as far as where they're coming from. Bairdi seems to be evolved from the obsoleta complex, and as such is allied more to the humid east. Subocularis is allied with the Baja rat, B. rosaliae, I think. They are evolved desert forms, adapted to more xeric habitats.
If you look closely at the range maps, you can also see that subocularis ranges farther into Mexico with a wider range than bairdi which ranges a little further east with a very limited range.
That said, I don't keep either form, but have had bairdi before. I'm just speculating here. Hope it puts you on the right track.
Terry
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Habitat preferences... - Terry Cox, Mon Sep 13 21:00:57 2004