Distribution and Habitat
The Arizona cotton rat is found in southern and central Arizona, the extreme southwestern corner of New Mexico, and in western Mexico from Sonora to Nayarit. They live close to rivers, streams, and other sources of fresh water in semidesert, open grassland, or swampy habitats throughout the region. They rely particularly on areas of dense grassy vegetation. Two of the five recognized subspecies are believed to have gone extinct during the twentieth century, including the nominate subspecies, Sigmodon arizonae arizonae. Three subspecies therefore remain:
- Sigmodon arizonae cienegae - Arizona, northern Sonora
- Sigmodon arizonae major - southern Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit
- Sigmodon arizonae plenus - western La Paz County, Arizona
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