Subspeciation in the Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ordii: KU. Vol 1 No 23Setzer, Henry W.
Science
Subspeciation in the Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ordii: KU. Vol 1 No 23
Setzer, Henry W.
Kangaroo rats
Goldman (1933:469) described _Dipodomys ordii cleomophila_ from 5 miles
northeast of Winona, Coconino County, Arizona, and gave as distinctive
characters "upper parts distinctly darker, ... black facial markings
more distinct; skull slightly different." These comparative statements
were made in reference to _Dipodomys ordii longipes_. While it is true
that the animals which Goldman examined are darker and show some slight
cranial differences, these animals, in my opinion, are not sufficiently
distinct to warrant their separation from _D. o. longipes_. In the
degree of expansion of the auditory bullae, the width of the rostrum,
the length of the nasals and interorbital width, animals from 5 miles
northeast of Winona (2 specimens) are within the range of individual
variation shown by _D. o. longipes_. The color is darker, being more as
in _Dipodomys ordii chapmani_. Specimens examined from 10 miles north
of Angell, Springerville, Tanner Tank and Cedar Ranch Wash, Arizona
(listed by Goldman as referable to _D. o. cleomophila_), and those from
Wupatki Ruins, Arizona, agree with _D. o. longipes_ except that the
width across the maxillary arches is greater. This greater width across
the maxillary arches and the darker color of animals from Winona and
Wupatki Ruins, in my opinion, afford insufficient basis for the
recognition of the subspecies _Dipodomys ordii cleomophila_ Goldman
which, therefore, is placed as a synonym of _Dipodomys ordii longipes_
(Merriam).
_Specimens examined._--Total, 244, distributed as follows:
=Utah=: _San Juan County_: 1 mi. N Bluff, 3500 ft., 1 (UU); 1/2
mi. N Bluff, 3300 ft., 7 (UU); Bluff, 2 (UU); Johns Canyon, San
Juan River, 5150 ft., 2 (UU).
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