Speciation in the Brazilian Spiny Rats — John Shaqi
Speciation in the Brazilian Spiny RatsMoojen, João
Science
Speciation in the Brazilian Spiny Rats
Moojen, João
Proechimys
_Pelage._--_Aristiforms on middorsal region_: Whitish basally,
gradually becoming blackish toward tip; total length, 19 to 21 mm;
maximum width, 1.1 mm. _Setiforms on middorsal region_: a. Gray
basally, gradually blackening toward tip but interrupted by wide (5
to 6 mm) Tawny, subapical zone; some are whitish basally and
gradually become sooty brown toward tip except for same type of
subapical zone (tip only slightly darker than subapical zone); b.
With the same type described above and some completely blackish,
with the base gray; total length 22 to 25 mm; maximum width, 0.1
mm. _Setiforms on outer thighs_: Whitish basally, gradually
becoming gray and then blackish toward tip but interrupted by long,
Ochraceous-Tawny, subapical zone; tip, itself, blackish brown;
sometimes this type appears with some lighter ones and sometimes
with completely blackish setiforms; total length 16 to 18 mm;
maximum width 0.3 mm.
_Skull._--Medium in size and slender; cranium narrow and not
increasing much in breadth posteriorly; rostrum stout, laterally
thick, with masseteric crest well-developed; nasals pointed
posteriorly; supraorbital ridges broad but barely extended across
parietals; zygomatic arches strong; postorbital process of zygoma
involving mostly squamosal; incisive foramen long and narrow (5.5
to 6 × 2.5 mm), oval and extending posteriorly to point only 2 mm
anterior to premolars; vomerine sheath complete with maxillary
part usually slender; mesopterygoid fossa extending forward as far
as centers of third molars; bulla of medium size, well inflated
and with shallow grooves on surface.
_Teeth._--Upper molariform teeth with three counterfolds. Lower
premolar with four counterfolds or, sometimes (20 per cent of 15
specimens), with only three; lower molars with three counterfolds.
_Comparisons._--From _P. g. oris_ and _P. g. nesiotes_, _hyleae_
differs in: wider aristiforms; general color on upper parts Tawny,
instead of Ochraceous-Orange; vomerine sheath not always complete,
instead of always complete. From _P. g. oris_, _hyleae_ differs
in: p4 usually with four, instead of only three counterfolds and
all molars with three, instead of only lower molars with three
counterfolds. From _P. g. nesiotes_, _hyleae_ differs in: p4
usually, instead of always, with four counterfolds; color on back
Tawny instead of Ochraceous-Orange; aristiforms wider.
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