Mammalia, Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae, Rhogeessa hussoni Genoways and Baker, 1996: Distribution extension and taxonomic notes. (original) (raw)
Skull and tooth morphology of Finnish and Japanese raccoon dogs
Annales Zoologici …, 1998
The skull and tooth morphometrics of Finnish and Japanese raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides ussuriensis and N. p. viverrinus, respectively) were examined and compared. The skulls of Finnish raccoon dogs were larger overall than those of Japanese raccoon dogs (tanukis) and were also larger relative to occipital condyle breadth, i.e. body size. Almost all measurements differed among samples in relation to skull size, indicating differences in skull shape. Mandible width and jaw height were the best measurements for discriminating among populations; the mandible is both absolutely and relatively more robust and the jaws more powerful among Finnish than among Japanese raccoon dogs. Japanese raccoon dogs have a relatively longer rostrum and longer tooth rows than Finnish raccoon dogs. Although the absolute measurements of most teeth of Finnish raccoon dogs were larger than those of Japanese raccoon dogs, the relative measurements of molars in particular were larger in Japan than in Finland, indicating a larger grinding surface among Japanese raccoon dogs. We suggest that viverrinus has adapted to a milder climate and less carnivorous diet than ussuriensis. The Japanese raccoon dog is smaller and, due to its less carnivorous diet, its head has become decreased in size and the jaws less powerful; however, since its diet consists largely of invertebrates and coarse plant material, its molars have increased relative to skull size.
Cranial variation in British mustelids
Journal of Morphology, 2004
Nineteen measurements were made on 136 skulls belonging to seven mustelid species: Meles meles (Eurasian badger), Mustela nivalis, (weasel), Mustela erminea (stoat), Mustela putorius (polecat), Lutra lutra (otter), Mustela furo (ferret), and Mustela vison (American mink), and polecat-ferret hybrids. To investigate shape, size-related effects were eliminated by dividing all measurements by their geometric means. Canonical variate analysis was used to reveal major interspecies distinctions. Excluding the ferrets and polecat-ferrets from the analysis, only 3.2% of the skulls misclassified (one mink, one weasel, and two stoats). Three groups separated on the first canonical axis: 1) badgers, 2) polecats, mink, and otters, and 3) stoats and weasels. The important variables were width of zygomatic arch and height of sagittal crest opposed to the postorbital distance, condylobasal length, and basilar length. Otters separated out on the second canonical axis; the most important variables were postorbital breadth and width of the postorbital constriction opposed to the basioccipital width. There was reasonable separation of polecats from mink on a combination of the second and third canonical axes. On the latter the most important variables were postorbital breadth opposed to postorbital distance. Addition of the ferret data showed that they lay closest to, and overlapped with, the polecats. The stoat and weasel data alone gave complete separation, with height of sagittal crest and width of zygomatic arch opposed to basioccipital width. However, using size-in data the best separation was the relationship between postorbital breadth and either basioccipital width or postorbital distance. Sexual dimorphism was demonstrated in the skulls of badgers but was shown to be relatively insignificant when compared to the interspecific differences.
Revue suisse de zoologie., 1893
resulting tree. Nonparametric bootstrap values (Felsenstein, 1985) with 1000 replicates were calculated for unweighted and weighted characters. 250 B. SCHÄTTI & P. MONSCH The number of preocular, postocular, and gular scales are not influenced by this phenomenon (Schmidtler, 1997). Without anticipating the situation in Hemerophis socotrae (Günther), the genera Hemorrhois, Platyceps, and Spalerosophis, as well as the unassigned racers Coluber (s.l.) dorri (Lataste), C. (s.l.) scorteceli (Lanza), and C. (s.l.) zebrlnus (Broadley & Schätti) from the western Sahel (Sudanese Arid), Somalia, and Namibia, respectively (see Schätti & Utiger, 2001), the morphological and molecular data presented in this study, and in particular the phylogenetic affinities of C. (s.l.) andreanus and Elrenls spp., suggest character polarities for Palaearctic whip and dwarf snakes as listed in Table 4.
Allometric Comparison of Skulls from Two Closely Related Weasels, Mustela itatsi and M. sibirica
Zoological Science, 2011
We conducted an interspecific comparison of skulls from two closely related but differently sized mustelid species, Mustela itatsi and M. sibirica (Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae); a sexual comparison within the latter species showed remarkable size dimorphism. We clarified several differences in skull proportion related to size using allometric analyses and qualitative comparisons. Allometric analysis revealed that the skulls of male M. itatsi (the smaller species) have a relatively long palate; a slender viscerocranium and postorbital constriction; a broad, short, and low neurocranium; small carnassials; and a short mandible with a thin body and small ramus compared to the skulls of male M. sibirica (the larger species). Similar results were obtained when male M. itatsi were compared to female M. sibirica, although the male M. itatsi had a broader viscerocranium than female M. sibirica. A sexual comparison in M. sibirica revealed a larger skull size among the males with a relatively wide viscerocranium; wide postorbital constriction; a slender, long, and high neurocranium; short and wide auditory bullae; short carnassials; and a long and high mandible compared to females. Qualitative comparisons revealed changes in a few characters depending on skull size or with respect to some cranial components in each species. The interspecific differences observed were clearly larger than the intraspecific differences for three qualitative characters. The allometric and qualitative differences detected between these species suggest that each species is not simply the dwarf and/or giant morph of the other, and complicated differences were clarified.
NOTES DISTRIBUTION AND NATURAL HISTORY NOTES ON SOME MAMMALS
THE SOUTHWEST NATURALIST, 1977
FROM PUEBLA, MEXICO-Approximately 250 small mammals collected in central Mexico by Bruce J. Hayward in 1958 are on deposit in the Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota. In this collection are noteworthy specimens of eight species. Seven of these are from a single locality, 12.1 km (by road) NE of Tezuitlan, Puebla, which is approximately 190 52' N, 970 20' W. Sorex macrodon, Oryzomys alfaroi, Peromyscus furvus, and Peromyscus thomasi were taken in undergrowth along the seep from a spring and along a nearby swift-flowing stream in a beech-sweetgum cloud forest. Three species, Cryptotis mexicana, Reithrodontomys sumichrasti, and Microtus quasiater, were collected in a grass-fern meadow on a highway embankment in a beech-sweetgum cloud forest. Specimens of the eighth species, Carollia brevicauda, were captured elsewhere as described below. Catalog numbers refer to the Bell Museum.
Background:Studies of morphometric variation make it possible to delimit species and geographic intraspecific variation, mainly in species with wide distribution ranges. In the Neotropical otter,Lontra longicaudis, variation in the shape of the rhinarium of three potential subspecies has been described but it is not known whether there is a pattern to the morphometric variation in the skull throughoutthe distribution of this species. We analyzed morphological variation in the cranium (ventral view) and the mandible (lateral view) of the Neotropical otter, comparing male and female specimens and evaluating the differences between specified geographic units utilizing methods from geometric morphometrics. Specimens from the entire distribution of the species were analyzed. Between sexes, variability in the shape was determined by calculating the Procrustes distances and using Goodall’sFtest. Geographic variation was analyzed using a discriminant analysis, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) on a matrix of partial warp scores, and a cluster analysis with Mahalanobis distances, allowing for similarities in shape to be identified between different geographic units. Variation in the size of the two structures was calculated based on the values for centroid size using a one-way ANOVA with a Bonferroni correction and a 95 % confidence interval. Results:There was sexual dimorphism in shape for both views, with males the largest. In general, there was geographic variation in the shape and size of both the cranium and the mandible in the Neotropical otter, exhibiting a pattern that resembled Bergmann’srule.Variationinshapebetweengeographicunits could result from the presence of geographic barriers, the spatial configuration of hydrological regions, and/or the large distances between populations throughout this species’ distribution. Conclusions:The Neotropical otter exhibits dimorphism in the size, but not in the shape of the skull. There is geographic variation between geographic units, and our results suggest that L. longicaudiscouldbeagroupofspecies.Anintegrative study using molecular and morphological data could elucidate its taxonomy. Keywords:Geographic variation; Geometric morphometrics;Lontra longicaudis; Sexual dimorphism
A descriptive morphometric approach to the skull in Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) of Egypt
2021
Craniofacial anatomy is essential to understand the locative relationships of organs in specific region of each species. This study was aimed to investigate morphometric parameters of the skull of the Red fox of Egypt. Thirteen skulls of about 2.5-4 years-old male Red fox were carefully processed using standard method. Altogether, 29 different osteometric measurements including 7 different indices were estimated. The average total length and width of the skull in the Red fox were 17.64 ± 2.68 cm and 8.73 ± 1.76 cm, respectively, with cephalic index of 49.27 ± 3.42. The cranial length of the Red fox’s skull was about two-fold of its width, with cranial capacity of 49.54 ± 3.75 cc, as well as cranial and basal indices were 49.87 ± 3.96 and 30.97 ± 2.33, respectively. The foramen magnum width was higher than its height, with foramen magnum index of 71.52 ± 3.86. The cranial length of the Red fox’s skull was higher than the facial length, with facial index of 62.70 ± 4.01. The orbital l...
The Section of Mammals of Carnegie Museum of Natural History
1980
Publications Since 1977, the Section of Mammals has exchanged reprints of staff publications with colleagues worldwide. The following list, arranged alphabetically by first author, represents a compilation of all reprints that have been offered via our mailing lists. No longer available from Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Please contact your local librarian for assistance with these titles.