Subspeciation in the Meadow Mouse, Microtus montanus, in Wyoming and Colorado — John Shaqi
Subspeciation in the Meadow Mouse, Microtus montanus, in Wyoming and ColoradoAnderson, Sydney
Science
Subspeciation in the Meadow Mouse, Microtus montanus, in Wyoming and Colorado
Anderson, Sydney
Mice
The study here reported upon is based on 1,187 specimens of _Microtus
montanus_ from Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and Montana, and on work in the
field. I spent approximately four months in the field in this area, in
the summers of 1950, 1951, and 1952. The specimens studied were arranged
according to localities and the larger series were compared
statistically. Each of two series, totaling 136 specimens, was studied
intensively to ascertain the kind and range of variation within single
populations. Twenty-seven measurements, various proportions based on
these measurements, and differences in color were analyzed. Fifteen
characters, judged to be most significant, were selected for use in
comparing all series. In addition, certain characters that can not be
expressed easily by measurements, such as inflation of the auditory
bullae and the curvature of the zygomatic arch, were observed. The
studies by A. B. Howell (1924) of variation in _Microtus montanus
yosemite_ Grinnell in California and those by O. B. Goin (1943) of
_Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus_ (Ord) were useful. The external
measurements are from the collectors' field labels. The measurements of
the skull all were taken with dial calipers reading to a tenth of a
millimeter. The anteroposterior measurements of the skull all were taken
along the shortest line between the points specified below and are not
necessarily along a line parallel to the long axis of the skull. These
measurements were taken on the left side of the skull whenever possible.
Some of the skulls are damaged and therefore some measurements could not
be taken and are omitted in the computations. Measurements are in
millimeters.
The results of these studies were submitted to the Department of Zoology
and the Graduate School of the University of Kansas in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (1952)
and are available in manuscript form at the Museum of Natural History
and the library of the University of Kansas.
EXPLANATION OF MEASUREMENTS
Caudal index.--the length of the tail expressed as a percentage of
the length of the head and body. The length of the head and body is
the collector's measurement of total length less the length of the
tail.
CRANIAL MEASUREMENTS OF LENGTH.
Condylobasilar length.--from the exoccipital condyle to the most
posterior point on the border of the alveolus of the upper incisor.
Alveolobasilar length.--from the posterior border of the alveolus
of the third upper molar to the posterior border of the alveolus of
the incisor.
Palatilar length.--from the anteriormost part of the posterior
border of the bony shelf of the palate to the posteriormost part of
the alveolus of the incisor.
Alveolar length of upper molar tooth-row.--from the most posterior
point of the alveolus of the third upper molar to the most anterior
point of the alveolus of the first upper molar.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account