Scapanus latimanus
| Northern Broad-footed Mole
(Scapanus latimanus) | |
|---|---|
| Range | |
 | |
| Taxonomic classification | |
| Order: | Eulipotyphla |
| Suborder: | Erinaceota |
| Family: | Talpidae |
| Subfamily: | Scalopinae |
| Tribe: | Scalopini |
| Genus: | Scapanus |
| Binomial details | |
| Scapanus latimanus (Bachman, 1841) | |
Morphometric analysis of the craniodental measurements by Yates and Salazar-Bravo (2005) found statistical differences in morphological characters between Scapanus latimanus, Scapanus latimanus occultus (a subspecies of Scapanus latimanus), and Scapanus anthonyi, supporting the recognition of Scapanus latimanus, Scapanus occultus, and Scapanus anthonyi as separate species. Phylogenetic analysis by Álvarez-Castañeda & Cortes-Calva (2021) further supported the recognition of Scapanus occultus and Scapanus anthonyi as species separate from Scapanus latimus.
Description
From Verts & Carraway (2001): "The broad-footed mole has a relatively short cylindrical body; conical, depressed head; long, pointed snout; crescentic, superior nostrils; minute eyes concealed by fur; small auricular orifices; keeled sternum (manubrium); short, stout legs; wide, scantily haired, and horny manus permanently turned outward and widened by the os falciforme attached to the 1st digit; long, wide nails on the manus; relatively diminutive pes with shorter, more pointed nails; and short, plush-like pelage (Ingles 1965; Jackson 1915; Sumner and Dixon 1953)... Winter pelage usually is darker (Jackson 1915) and individuals from semiarid areas are lighter in color than those from humid montane regions (Palmer 1937). Tail is nearly covered with silvery hair to tip and short hairs extend nearly to end of snout (Ingles 1965), distinguishing S. latimanus from other members of the genus. Aberrantly colored (e.g., light cinnamon yellow) individuals occur (Miller 1921)."
From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "A light gray or black mole of medium size, with a forehand as wide as or wider than it is long, and a tail less than 25 percent of its total length."
External measurements
Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.
| Part of range | Reference | Total length | Tail length | Hindfoot length | Ear length | Mass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Jameson & Peeters (2004) | 135–190 | 20–45 | 18–25 | ||
| California (Alameda County) | Verts & Carraway (2001) | female: 159 (n=1); male: 160 (n=1) | female: 30 (n=1); male: 33 (n=1) | female: 20 (n=1); male: 18 (n=1) | ||
| California (El Dorado County) | Verts & Carraway (2001) | males: 164, 175 (n=2) | males: 30, 30 (n=2) | males: 20, 21 (n=2) | ||
| California (Lassen County) | Palmer (1937); in Verts & Carraway (2001) | males: 160–185 (n=4) | males: 34–40 (n=4) | males: 21–25 (n=4) | ||
| California (Marin County) | Verts & Carraway (2001) | female: 182 (n=1); males: 177–183 (n=2) | female: 36 (n=1); males: 36–38 (n=2) | female: 22.5 (n=1); males: 23–23.5 (n=2) | ||
| California (Mendocino County) | Palmer (1937); in Verts & Carraway (2001) | female: 154–192 (n=8); males: 164–190 (n=10) | females: 23–39 (n=8); males: 32–38 (n=10) | females: 20–24 (n=8); males: 21–23 (n=10) | ||
| California (San Mateo County) | Palmer (1937); in Verts & Carraway (2001) | females: 170–172 (n=2) | females: 32–45 (n=2) | females: 20 (n=2) | ||
| California (Santa Clara County) | Palmer (1937); in Verts & Carraway (2001) | males: 170–175 (n=3) | males: 29–40 (n=3) | males: 20–22 (n=3) | ||
| California (Santa Cruz County) | Jackson (1915); in Verts & Carraway (2001) | females: 162–185 (n=4); males: 173–181 (n=4) | females: 31–35 (n=4); males: 32–38 (n=4) | females: 20–21 (n=4); males: 20–21 (n=4) | ||
| California (Shasta County) | Palmer (1937); in Verts & Carraway (2001) | females: 152–183 (n=5) | females: 29–43 (n=5) | females: 21–23 (n=5) | ||
| Oregon | Verts & Carraway (1998) | 150–192 | 25–55 | 16–25 | 55.6–78 |
Skull
From Verts & Carraway (2001): "Skull is conoidal with a broad braincase, moderately heavy mastoids, rectangular interparietal region about one-third as wide as long, flat frontal region, premaxillae extending beyond nasals, anteriorly opening nares, long and relatively heavy zygomata, oval foramen magnum, and elongate palate. Horizontal ramus of mandible is moderately heavy, curved upward posteriorly, and has an elongate coronoid process (Jackson 1915)."
From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "Its unicuspid teeth are unevenly spaced."
https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1145793410
Similar species
Key to the species of Scapanus by Álvarez-Castañeda & Cortes-Calva (2021).
From Verts & Carraway (2001): "Scapanus latimanus can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its dark brown to silvery gray pelage (often with a coppery or brassy wash), unevenly spaced unicuspid teeth (especially the appression of U5 and U6), and relatively short and broad rostrum (Hall 1981; Ingles 1954; Jackson 1915; Verts and Carraway 1998)... Tail is nearly covered with silvery hair to tip and short hairs extend nearly to end of snout (Ingles 1965), distinguishing S. latimanus from other members of the genus. Aberrantly colored (e.g., light cinnamon yellow) individuals occur (Miller 1921)."
From Verts & Carraway (1998): "It can be distinguished from congeners by its lighter gray pelage with a coppery wash and by U5 and U6 being appressed. Occasionally the latter character is exhibited only on one side."
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Scapanus latimanus observed in Willits, California, by jabbott. Notice that the tail is nearly covered in hair to the tip. -
Coast Mole (Scapanus orarius) observed in Washington by Patricia Teague. Notice that the tail is scantily haired and appears almost naked. -
Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii) observed in Beaverton, Oregon, by mjwood77. Scapanus townsendii is the largest species of mole in North America. Notice that the tail is scantily haired and appears almost naked.
Once considered a subspecies of Scapanus latimanus, phylogenetic analysis by Álvarez-Castañeda & Cortes-Calva (2021) supported the recognition of Scapanus latimanus occultus as a species separate from Scapanus latimus. From Álvarez-Castañeda & Cortes-Calva (2021): "No specimens of S. l. occultus and S. l. latimanus have been collected in sympatry and in the two areas where S. l. occultus and S. l. latimanus occur, namely the southern part of Sierra Nevada and northern portion of Santa Barbara, it appears that S. l. occultus occurs in lower altitudes, and S. l. latimanus at higher altitudes... Scapanus occultus can be differentiated from S. latimanus in its smaller size and longer and wider skull (Yates and Salazar-Bravo 2005). Some specimens have fewer than seven unicuspid teeth, but only on a single side of the mandible or maxilla."
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Scapanus latimanus observed in Willits, California, by jabbott. -
Southern Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus occultus) observed in San Bernardino National Forest, California, by Justin M. Wood.
Taxonomy notes
From Álvarez-Castañeda & Cortes-Calva (2021): "Based on our phylogenetic analysis and its morphological characteristics (Allen 1893; Jackson 1915; Huey 1936; Yates and Salazar-Bravo 2005), we support that S. anthonyi is a different species from S. latimanus. Additionally, we propose that specimens known as S. latimanus occultus (including S. l. grinnelli) from southern California and northern Baja California peninsula should be considered as a distinct species (S. occultus) different from S. latimanus from central and north California and from S. anthonyi inhabiting San Pedro Mártir. Therefore, we consider that the genus Scapanus contains five species that should be recognized as S. anthonyi, S. latimanus, S. occultus, S. orarius, and S. townsendi... We did not perform a morphometric analysis of the craniodental measurements because this previously was reported by Yates and Salazar-Bravo (2005). Yates and Salazar-Bravo (2005) reported statistical differentiation in morphological characters between S. l. occultus and S. anthonyi separated by a distance > 50 km. In addition, they found significant differences between S. l. occultus and S. l. latimanus sensus (Yates and Salazar-Bravo 2005), with S. l. occultus being smaller overall. No specimens of S. l. occultus and S. l. latimanus have been collected in sympatry and in the two areas where S. l. occultus and S. l. latimanus occur, namely the southern part of Sierra Nevada and northern portion of Santa Barbara, it appears that S. l. occultus occurs in lower altitudes, and S. l. latimanus at higher altitudes."
References
Allen JA. 1893. On a collection of mammals from San Pedro Martir region of Lower California. Bulletin American Museum Natural History 5:181-202.
Álvarez-Castañeda ST, Cortes-Calva P. 2021. Revision of moles in the genus Scapanus. Therya 12(2): 275-281. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-21-1174
Bachman J. 1841. Observations on the genus Scalops, with descriptions of the species found in North America. Proccedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 1, 41.
Hall ER. 1981. The mammals of North America. 2 vols. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Huey LM. 1936. Notes on the moles of Lower California, México. Journal of Mammalogy 17:166-167.
Ingles LG. 1965. Mammals of the Pacific states: California, Oregon, and Washington. (CA, USA): Stanford University Press.
Jackson HHT. 1915. A review of the American moles. North American Fauna 38:1-100.
Jameson EW, Peeters HJ. 2004. Mammals of California (No. 66). Berkeley (CA, USA): University of California Press.
Miller L. 1921. The coat color of moles. Journal of Mammalogy 2:163-166.
Palmer FG. 1937. Geographic variation in the mole Scapanus latimanus. Journal of Mammalogy 18:280-314.
Sumner L, Dixon JS. 1953. Birds and mammals of the Sierra Nevada with records from Sequoia and King's Canyon national parks. Berkeley (CA, USA): University of California Press.
Verts BJ, Carraway LN. 1998. Land mammals of Oregon. Berkeley (CA, USA): University of California Press.
Verts BJ, Carraway LN. 2001. Scapanus latimanus. Mammalian Species 2001(666): 1-7.
Yates TL, Salazar-Bravo J. 2005. Revision of the Scapanus latimanus, with the revalidation of a species of Mexican mole. Pp. 489-506, in Contribuciones mastozoológicas en Honor a Bernardo Villa (Sánchez-Cordero, V., and R. Medellín, eds.). Instituto de Biología, UNAM, Instituto de Ecología UNAM. Ciudad de México, México.