Synaptomys cooperi
Southern Bog Lemming
(Synaptomys cooperi) | |
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Range | |
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Taxonomic classification | |
Order: | Rodentia |
Suborder: | Supramyomorpha |
Infraorder: | Myomorphi |
Superfamily: | Muroidea |
Family: | Cricetidae |
Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
Tribe: | Lemmini |
Genus: | Synaptomys |
Binomial details | |
Synaptomys cooperi S. F. Baird, 1858 |
Description
From Linzey (1983): "Synaptomys cooperi is a comparatively small vole with small eyes and ears, and a short tail. The head appears large relative to overall body size. Facial hairs can be erected to form a "facial disk" around the snout. Dorsal color ranges from bright chestnut to dark grizzled brown, whereas the venter is silver to light gray. Juvenal pelage is dark gray-brown and is replaced by subadult pelage that resembles the adult pelage, but is darker and duller (Connor, 1959). Bole and Moulthrop (1942) noted that fresh winter pelage of S. c. cooperi was longer, softer, and paler than the dark brown summer pelage. Howell (1927) also commented that the winter coat was longer and more dense."
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland | Webster et al. (1985) | 119–136 | 17–27 | 26–36 | ||
Colorado | Armstrong et al. (2010) | 125–155 | 17–25 | 17–26 | 10–14 | 35–55 |
Minnesota | Hazard (1982) | 100–123 | 11–21 | 15.5–19 | 10–13 | 19.1–27.5 |
Virginia | Linzey (1983) | 94–154 | 13–24 | 16–24 | 8–14 | 21.4–50 |
Virginia | Linzey (1998) | 100–138 | less than 25 | 14–24 |
Skull
From Naughton (2012): "Upper incisors are grooved on anterior surface; m3 has 4 closed triangles."
Similar species
Differences between Synaptomys cooperi and Mictomys borealis (formerly S. borealis) are given in the key below, which is based on Linzey (1983) and Naughton (2012). The new name for Synamptomys borealis is Mictomys borealis, based on Hope et al. (2023).
Mammae six; each mandibular (lower jaw) molar has a closed triangle on the labial (outer) side; the third mandibular molar (m3) has 4 closed triangles; mandibular incisors heavy; palate ending posteriorly with a broad blunt median projection...................... Synaptomys cooperi
Mammae eight; each mandibular (lower jaw) molar lacks a closed triangle on the labial (outer) side; the third mandibular molar (m3) has 3 closed loops; mandibular incisors relatively slender; palate ending posteriorly with a sharply pointed median projection... Northern Bog Lemming (Mictomys borealis)
References
Bole BP Jr, Moulthrop PN. 1942. The Ohio Recent mammal collection in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Scientific publications of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History 5:83-181.
Connor PF. 1959. The bog lemming Synaptomys cooperi in southern New Jersey. Publications of the Museum. Michigan State University. Biological Series 1:161-248.
Hall ER. 1981. The mammals of North America. 2 vols. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Hope AG, Headlee KM, Olson ZH, Wiens BJ. 2023. Systematics, biogeography and phylogenomics of northern bog lemmings (Cricetidae), cold-temperate rodents of conservation concern under global change. Systematics and Biodiversity 21:1:2237050. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2023.2237050
Howell AB. 1927. Revision of the American lemming mice (Genus Synaptomys). North American Fauna 50:1-38.
Linzey AV. 1983. Synaptomys cooperi. Mammalian Species (210): 1-5.