North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Science
North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)
Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Zapus
The size and shape of certain cranial elements vary individually even
between right and left sides of the same animal. The paired parietal
bones in some animals are nearly square and identical. In other animals
these bones are approximately equal and straight on three sides with the
fourth side forming an anterolateral projection; this projection may be
slightly or greatly produced, and opposite elements in a single
individual differ in this respect.
The interparietal also is variable; the lateral arms may be blunted and
not included in the fusion of the squamosal, parietal, and occipital
elements, or the interparietals may be elongated and fused with these
elements. Posterior and anterior borders of the interparietal may be
straight, produced anteriorly, produced posteriorly, or produced
anteriorly and posteriorly.
There is frequently variation in the degree of taper of the nasals. They
may be parallel sided, narrowed distally, or narrowed proximally. There
is some variation in the degree of inflation, in the size, and in the
shape of the frontal bones. The anterior surface of the postpalatal
notch varies individually and may be truncate, anteriorly convex, or
anteriorly concave.
Individual variation in the color of the pelage of animals that are in
the same stage of molt or non-molt is by my observation slight. The
presence of oil in the hair results in a false impression of sleekness
and seemingly darker pigmentation. Abnormal white-spotting dorsally
occurs as does yellow and melanistic coat color. These mutations are
considered in the discussion concerning pelage.
Secondary Sexual Variation
In specimens of the two sexes from similar age groups of _hudsonius_
from Michigan, the mean values for each measurement for the two sexes
differ only slightly or are essentially the same (see table 4). In no
species has secondary sexual variation been found to be greater than
individual variation.
TABLE 4.--Mean Measurements for Adult Male and Female Z. hudsonius
of Age Group 2 and Per Cent Difference of Females to Males
(Specimens from Michigan).
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