North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Science
North American Jumping Mice (Genus Zapus)
Krutzsch, Philip H. (Philip Henry)
Zapus
_Description._--Size, medium; color moderately dark; upper parts
noticeably dull and dusty; broad dorsal band of dull Ochraceous-Buff to
near Warm Buff sprinkled with black hair to a varying degree, resulting
in two color phases (dark has more black hair; Ochraceous phase or Warm
Buff phase has more brown hair); sides paler than back owing to fewer
black hairs; lateral line, when present, narrow and dull; ventral
surface pure white; tail bicolored, pale brown above, yellowish-white to
dull white below; ears dark with narrow white or yellowish-white
edgings; feet white above; skull narrow across zygomata; incisive
foramina narrow; bullae moderately inflated; nasals narrow at tips;
postpalatal notch anterior to posterior face of last molars; braincase
moderately narrow; zygomatic arch short.
_Comparisons._--From _Zapus princeps saltator_, _Z. p. kootenayensis_
differs as follows: Upper parts generally dull with less ochraceous;
sides with more yellow, less ochraceous; lateral line wanting or not
bright; skull averaging slightly smaller; incisive foramina smaller and
narrower posteriorly; small medium projection on inferior ramus of the
zygomatic process of maxillary frequently present instead of absent;
pterygoid fossae shorter and narrower.
For comparison with _Zapus princeps idahoensis_ see account of that
subspecies.
_Remarks._--This subspecies is paler and averages smaller than either of
the subspecies with adjoining geographic ranges. There is intergradation
with _Zapus princeps idahoensis_ in color, shape and size of incisive
foramina, and in the shape of the nasals in Idaho-taken specimens from
Glidden Lakes and Enaville. These individuals are thought to be _Z. p.
idahoensis_. Specimens from the same state taken at Cascade Creek and 13
mi. E and 5 mi. N Coeur d'Alene show intergradation in color, size and
inflation of bullae, configuration of nasals, and shape of the vomer
between _Zapus princeps idahoensis_ and _Z. p. kootenayensis_. The
majority of characters studied show these animals to be referable to _Z.
p. idahoensis_.
Specimens from Monashee Pass, 4000 ft., British Columbia, show
relationship to _Zapus princeps saltator_ in the posteriorly wide
incisive foramina, in the narrow vomer, and, in some individuals, in the
increased amount of ochraceous, dorsally and laterally. The majority of
characters studied show these animals to be referable to _Z. p.
kootenayensis_.
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