Baculum: Stalk massive, greatest length (4.7 mm.) 1-3/4 times greatest
breadth, 4 times greatest depth; ossification in digitate processes
variable; in one (KU 27123) of two specimens examined lateral processes
ossified and median process unossified, as in two specimens examined by
Hamilton (1946:379) from "southern Florida"; in my other specimen (KU
27268) that is possibly more mature, median process ossified although
less deeply stained than lateral ossifications or stalk; posterior
profile in probable dorsal view roughly rounded; in end-view probable
dorsal concavity deep, ventral concavity broad but shallow, and with
center convex; median constriction 3/5 greatest depth; shaft heavy, least
depth 2/3 greatest depth of base; stalk, at mid-point, slightly wider
than deep and more than 1/3 width of base; lateral profile in dorsal view
sharply incurved distal to point of greatest breadth, shaft therefore
relatively distinct from basal part of stalk; slight subterminal
constriction; tip less reduced in the two specimens examined than in two
figured by Hamilton. In preparation, the tissues that make it possible to
distinguish with certainty the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the baculum
were removed in both specimens.
_Specimens examined_: Two, of the subspecies _Neofiber alleni alleni_, 2
mi. S Gainesville, Alachua Co., Florida, 27268; 1 mi. E Courtenay,
Merritt Island, Brevard Co., Florida, 27123.
Lagurus curtatus (Cope)
Fig. 46
Baculum: Stalk slender, greatest length (2.5 mm.) 2 to 2-2/3 times
greatest breadth, 4 to 5 times greatest depth; three ossified processes;
median one more than 1/3 length of stalk, curved dorsally toward tip,
proximally flattened and having acute lateral angles in dorsal view,
wider than deep except in distal half; lateral processes smaller than
median one, slenderer, shorter, of approximately same depth, also curved
dorsally; base of stalk well developed, basal tuberosities medially
confluent, in part visible in dorsal view, in end-view wider ventrally
than dorsally, dorsal and ventral concavities of equal depth and both
wide, medial constriction 1/2 greatest depth; posterior profile in dorsal
view broadly bilobate; lateral profile with abrupt transition from basal
tuberosities to gradually converging, slightly curved sides of shaft;
shaft terminally inflated.
Dearden (1958:543) described and figured the bacula of six subspecies of
_Lagurus curtatus_ and two Asiatic species, _Lagurus lagurus_ and
_Lagurus luteus_. He examined at least 34 specimens of _L. curtatus_ and
found geographic variation in size, breadth of shaft distally, and
proportions of digital ossifications to each other and to the stalk. The
description that I have given above pertains to _L. c. levidensis_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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