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Zapodidae

From WhiskerWiki

Family Zapodidae
Range
Taxonomic classification
Order:Rodentia
Suborder:Supramyomorpha
Infraorder:Myomorphi
Superfamily:Dipodoidea

Introduction

Members of the family Zapodidae (jumping mice) have elongated hind limbs, remarkably long tails that are not well-haired (lack crests and tufts), dorsal coloration that ranges from dull yellow to bright yellowish orange with a darker mid-dorsal stripe, and a white venter. The upper incisors are grooved. Their skulls can be recognized by the presence of three or four cheekteeth.

The family Zapodidae contains two genera: Napaeozapus and Zapus. Napaeozapus typically have white-tipped tails whereas Zapus do not. Species in the genus Zapus have four cheekteeth, while species in the genus Napaeozapus have three.

  • Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) observed in the United States by Josh Emm.
  • Northern Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus trinotatus) shown, representing members of the genus Zapus. Zapus typically lack a white tip at the end of the tail.
  • Western Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus abietorum) shown, representing members of the genus Napaeozapus. Napaeozapus typically have a white-tipped tail.
  • Cheekteeth (molariform teeth) of Zapus
  • Cheekteeth (molariform teeth) of Napaeozapus

Available taxon pages

The following genera are available on WhiskerWiki for this family:

  • Range of the Western Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus abietorum) based on molecular analyses and niche-based distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Range of the Eastern Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus insignis) range based on molecular analyses and niche-based distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Dark range represents the distribution of the Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017). Lightly shaded area represents a portion of the range that was included in Krutzsch (1954).
  • Distribution of the Southern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus luteus) based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Distribution of the Central Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus montanus) based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Distribution of the Oregon Jumping Mouse (Zapus oregonus) based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Distribution of the Southern Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus pacificus) based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017)
  • Dark area represents the range of the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps) based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017). Lightly shaded area represents the range based on Krutzch (1954).
  • Distribution of the Northwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus saltator) based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Dark area represents the range of the Northern Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus trinotatus) proposed by Malaney et al. (2017). The light shaded area represents the former range of Z. trinotatus based on Krutzsch (1954). The former range to the south is now considered to be that of Zapus montanus.

Taxonomic notes

Krutzsch's (1954) account of Zapus aimed to record what is known concerning the geographic distribution and taxonomically significant characters (reviewing external measurements, pelage, bacula, skull, and teeth) to provide means for recognizing the species and subspecies in the genus. Krutzsch (1954) recognized three species (Z. hudsonius, Z. princeps, and Z. trinotatus) and 26 subspecies within the genus. Wrigley's (1972) systematic study of Napaeozapus investigated age, individual and secondary sexual variation within populations, and analyzed clinal and nonclinal geographic variation exhibited by the species. Wrigley (1972) recognized one species and five subspecies within Napaeozapus. Recently, molecular studies have found that the taxonomy and species delineations within the jumping mice are complex (Malaney et al., 2013; Malaney et al., 2017). Using genetic approaches, Malaney et al. (2017) recognized 9 species within Zapus, elevating some of the subspecies identified by Krutzsch (1954) to species status, and recognized 2 species within Napaeozapus. The work of Malaney et al. (2017) has importantly exposed cryptic diversity and putative new species within Zapus and Napaeozapus. Further studies will be needed to fully understand new species boundaries and morphological variation.

The maps below define former species and subspecies boundaries recognized by Krutzsch (1954) and Wrigley (1972) prior to Malaney et al.'s (2017) species delineations based on genetic analyses.

  • Subspecies boundaries of Napaeozapus insignis as defined by Wrigley (1972), before the species was split by Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Zapus princeps subspecies boundaries as defined by Krutzsch (1954), prior Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Zapus hudsonius subspecies boundaries as defined by Krutzsch (1954), prior Malaney et al. (2017).
  • Zapus trinotatus subspecies boundaries as defined by Krutzsch (1954), prior Malaney et al. (2017).

References

Krutzsch PH. 1954. North American jumping mice (genus Zapus). Lawrence, KS, USA: University of Kansas. Link

Malaney JL, Conroy CJ, Moffitt LA, Spoonhunter HD, Patton JL, Cook JA. 2013. Phylogeography of the western jumping mouse (Zapus princeps) detects deep and persistent allopatry with expansion. Journal of Mammalogy 94(5): 1016-1029.

Malaney JL, Demboski JR, Cook JA. 2017. Integrative species delimitation of the widespread North American jumping mice (Zapodinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 114: 137-152.

Wrigley RE. 1972. Systematics and biology of the woodland jumping mouse, Napaeozapus insignis. Illinois biological monographs; v. 47.

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