Skull comparisons

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Soricidae

The skull is recognized by an elongated rostrum; lack of zygomata (or zygomatic arches); first incisor enlarged; tympanic bone is a simple ring; and lack of auditory bullae (Hoffmeister, 1986). In the United States, all soricids are in the subfamily Soricinae, the red-toothed shrews. As the common name for the subfamily implies, all species of Blarina, Cryptotis, Notiosorex and Sorex have red-tipped teeth.

  • Top (dorsal) view of a Sorex skull showing the location of the missing zygomata. All soricids lack zygomata.
  • Tympanic rings (bones) on underside (ventral side) of the skull of Sorex monticola, which are characteristic of members of the family Soricidae

Blarina

  • Dorsal view of the skull of the Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda), representing members of the genus Blarina.
  • Lateral view of the skull of the Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda), representing members of the genus Blarina. Members of Blarina have a robust skull and coronoid process.

Cryptotis

  • Dorsal view of the skull of the North American Least Shrew (Cryptotis parvus), representing members of the genus Cryptotis.
  • Lateral view of the skull of the North American Least Shrew (Cryptotis parvus).

Notiosorex

Sorex

  • Lateral view of the skull of the Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus), representing members of the genus Sorex.

Talpidae

Condylura

  • Dorsal view of skull of Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata). Condylura cristata is also the only living member of the tribe Condylurini.
  • Lateral view of skull of Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata).

Parascalops

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Scalopus

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Scapanus

Neurotrichus

  • Dorsal view of the skull of the American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii), the only living member of the genus Neurotrichus.
  • Lateral view of the skull of the American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii).

Cricetidae

Alexandromys

  • Skull of the Root Vole (Alexandromys oeconomus) showing large, squared braincase, short rostrum, and wide, robust zygomatic arches.

Lemmiscus

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Microtus

Clethrionomys

Dicrostonyx

Lemmus

Mictomys

Synaptomys

Arborimus

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Phenacomys

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Baiomys

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Neotoma

Onychomys

Peromyscus

  • Skull of the Brush Deermouse (Peromyscus boylii) shown, representing members of the genus Peromyscus.
  • Skull of the Brush Deermouse (Peromyscus boylii) showing incisors that lacks grooves. All Peromyscus lack grooved upper incisors.

Podomys

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Reithrodontomys

Ochrotomys

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Oryzomys

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Sigmodon

Muridae

Mus musculus

Heteromyidae

General skull description for heteromyids from Hoffmeister (1986): "interparietal reduced, auditory bullae greatly inflated, incisors thin and compressed, no post-orbital process."

  • Reduced interparietal, shown in Dipodomys ordii
  • Greatly inflated auditory bullae, shown in Dipodomys ordii

Chaetodipus

Dipodomys

Perognathus

  • Skull of the Silky Pocket Mouse (Perognathus flavus) shown, representing members of the genus Perognathus.
  • Skull of Perognathus flavus showing grooved upper incisors, which is characteristic of the genus.

Microdipodops

  • Skull of the Pallid Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops pallidus). Members of the genus Microdipodops have auditory bullae that are inflated so much so as to completely obscure the interparietal.


Zapodidae

Members of Zapodidae have grooved upper incisors. Napaeozapus have 3 cheekteeth (molariform teeth); Zapus have four molariform teeth.

Napaeozapus

Zapus

  • Dorsal view of the skull of the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps), representing members of the genus Zapus.
  • Lateral view of the skull of the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps), representing members of the genus Zapus.
  • Ventral view of the skull of the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps), representing members of the genus Zapus.
  • Grooved upper incisors of Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps), representing members of the genus Zapus.
  • Napaeozapus skull (ventral) showing 3 cheekteeth
  • Zapus skull (ventral) showing 4 cheekteeth
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