Speciation in the Brazilian Spiny RatsMoojen, João
Science
Speciation in the Brazilian Spiny Rats
Moojen, João
Proechimys
Animals with narrow aristiforms tend to have a more or less uniform
coloration throughout the dorsal parts. The blackish distal parts of the
aristiforms regularly interline the ground color made by the subapical
zone of the setiforms. If, on the contrary, wide aristiforms occur, the
dorsal surface is conspicuously marked by the wide blackish lines among
spots of color formed by the subapical zones of the setiforms. No clinal
variation was detected in width of aristiforms but geographic variation
in width was noted; for example, the subspecies of _P. iheringi_ differ
in this respect.
The setiforms are narrow and flattened but are without pronouncedly
raised margins. The setiforms are usually bicolored on the dorsal and
lateral surfaces of the animals, with a subapical zone of some
reddish-brown color, like Ochraceous-Orange or Ochraceous-Buff. They are
whitish or gray on the basal parts and gradually blacken toward the tip,
but have a reddish subapical zone. Common exceptions to this pattern are
setiforms without subapical zones; these appear on the dorsal surface
among setiforms which are normal in possessing distinctive subapical
zones. Also there are setiforms without blackened tips on the lateral
surfaces. Due to their relative abundance and subapical color, these
setiforms are responsible for the dominant color on the upper parts.
Like the aristiforms, they are longer and wider in the middorsal region
of the animal and are gradually less developed on the remainder of the
upper parts. Actually there is more than one type of setiform in the
hair constellation; they vary in length, width and color. Attention was
not given, however, to every type of setiform.
The ventral surface of the body and the inner sides of the legs are
uniformly covered by short setiforms, thinner and more sparsely
distributed on the inner side of the legs. These setiforms are usually
uniformly white in color or, sometimes, the distal parts are buff or
more richly colored.
Vibrissiforms are scattered on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the
body, and in penicillate arrangements on the head. They are longer than
the pelage proper, have a nearly circular cross-section and are blackish
in color.
Skull
The absolute size of the skull is proportionate to bulk of the body. The
supraorbital and parietal ridges are especially developed in the _P.
semispinosus_ group, where they extend across the parietals to the
interparietals. In all members of the subgenus _Proechimys_, these
ridges extend onto the parietal region. In _Trinomys_, however, they do
not extend so far posteriorly as the parietal, but only onto the
squamosal.
The rostrum varies from slender to stout. Elongate rostra are common in
_Proechimys_; _Trinomys_ has a short blunt rostrum.
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