_Color._--As described in _Mustela erminea richardsonii_ except
that upper parts tone 2 or lighter of Chocolate of plate 343 of
Oberthür and Dauthenay; underparts white, Pale Buff or with faint
wash of Sulphur Yellow; least width of color of underparts in male
from Black Butte and one from Wheeler Peak, amounting to 65 and 59
per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of
tail, respectively, 28 and 33 mm., which amounts to 51 and 59 per
cent of length of tail-vertebrae. In two adult females, one from
Teton County, Wyoming, and one from Wheeler Peak, Nevada, the
least width of the underparts amounts to 55 and 60 per cent of the
greatest width of color of upper parts. Black tip of tail,
respectively, 23 and 19 mm., which amounts to 44 and 45 per cent
of length of tail-vertebrae.
From the other subspecies of small-sized weasels of more
northwestern occurrence, namely _anguinae_, _fallenda_,
_olympica_, _streatori_ and _gulosa_, _muricus_ differs in lighter
color of upper parts, wider light-colored underparts and
relatively longer black tip of tail.
_Skull._--Male (illustrated by 5 adults in table of measurements,
which see): See plate 7. As described in _Mustela erminea
richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 0.78 (Wheeler Peak) and 0.85
(Black Butte) grams; basilar length, 30.6 (29.8-31.2); length of
tooth-rows more or less than (approximately equal to) length of
tympanic bulla.
Female (illustrated by 6 adults in table of measurements, which
see): See plates 12-14. As described in _Mustela erminea
richardsonii_ except that: Weight, 0.60 (0.575-0.645); basilar
length, 28.0 (27.3-29.4); breadth of rostrum approximately 30 per
cent of basilar length.
In comparison with _streatori_, males average smaller in every
measurement taken with no overlap in most dimensions; 25 per cent
lighter; anterior margin of tympanic bulla more nearly flush with
squamosal, that is to say less protruded from braincase; in relation to
other dimensions of skull, braincase shallower anteriorly (at plane of
last molars) and deeper posteriorly (at anterior end of basioccipital).
Females average smaller in every measurement taken except mastoid and
zygomatic breadths which are actually more; 6 per cent lighter; in
relation to other parts of skull, preorbital and interorbital parts
slightly smaller; in relation to length of skull, braincase shallower.
Comparison with _invicta_ and _gulosa_ is made in the accounts of those
subspecies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account