Geographic Variation in Red-backed Mice (Genus Clethrionomys) of the Southern Rocky Mountain RegionCockrum, E. Lendell
Science
Geographic Variation in Red-backed Mice (Genus Clethrionomys) of the Southern Rocky Mountain Region
Cockrum, E. Lendell
Animals -- Variation; Mice
_Comparisons._--This subspecies needs close comparison only with the
adjacent subspecies _C. g. limitis_. As compared with topotypes of
_limitis_, _C. g. arizonensis_ has darker pelage, narrower rostrum,
greater width across zygomatic arches, lesser lambdoidal breadth,
longer nasals, wider palate, and more inflated auditory bullae. The
posterior border of the hard palate is straight in five skulls of the
series that are complete (two skulls have the palatal regions broken);
all _C. g. limitis_ examined have a median posterior projection on
the posterior border of the hard palate.
_Measurements._--External and cranial measurements of the type, and
the average and extreme measurements of three adult males and two
adult females from the type locality (including the type) are: Total
length, 160, 145.6 (137-160); tail, 44, 40.8 (37-46); hind foot, 18.5,
19.3 (18-20); condylobasilar length, 23.3, 22.8 (22.1-23.5); zygomatic
breadth, 13.8, 13.4 (12.6-13.8); lambdoidal breadth, 11.5, 11.4
(11.0-11.6); alveolar length upper cheek-teeth, 5.5, 5.4 (5.2-5.5);
interorbital breadth, 3.8, 3.9 (3.8-4.0); length of nasals, 7.6, 7.1
(6.9-7.6); breadth of rostrum, 3.1, 3.1 (3.0-3.2); length of incisive
foramina, 5.5, 5.2 (5.0-5.5).
_Remarks._--Hall and Davis (Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 47:55,
February 9, 1934) reported 12 specimens of red-backed mice from
Hannagan Meadow, 9500 to 9600 ft., and ten from Hannagan Creek, 8600
ft., all in Greenlee County, Arizona. Although they pointed out most
of the cranial differences here described as diagnostic of _C. g.
arizonensis_, they did not name the animals as new since they had no
seasonally comparable materials; thus they were unable to evaluate the
differences noted in pelage. We have not examined the material
referred to by Hall and Davis (_loc. cit._), but, on the basis of
their description, here refer it to _C. g. arizonensis_.
_Specimens examined._--Total, 7, all from the type locality and all in
the Biological Surveys Collection in the United States National
Museum.
Grateful acknowledgment is made of the opportunity to study the
specimens from New Mexico and Arizona in the Biological Surveys
Collection of the United States National Museum and the material from
South Dakota in the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, as well
as for the financial support afforded one of us (Cockrum) by the
University of Kansas from its Research appropriation. Cockrum's work
was part of a larger investigation of the geographic distribution of
all North American native mammals, aided by a contract between the
Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy, and the University
of Kansas (NR. 161-791). Also, assistance with some of field work was
given by the Kansas University Endowment Association.
_Transmitted June 21, 1952._
[Illustration: printers mark]
24-4369
Transcriber's Notes.
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