Key to the species of Scapanus

Return to Keys

This key to the species of Scapanus is borrowed from Álvarez-Castañeda & Cortes-Calva (2021), it was modified for accuracy and images were added for clarity.

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

1

• Dorsal coloration usually brown to gray. All unicuspid teeth with variable spacing between them and usually crowded; rostrum short and broad . . . . . 2

• 

  Holotype MVZ:Mamm:2369. Scapanus occultus.Lateral view of the skull showing unicuspid teeth with variable spacing between them and usually crowded.

• Dorsal coloration almost black. All unicuspid teeth with regular spacing between them, and not crowded; rostrum long and narrow . . . . . 4

• 

  NEON06F5C. Unicsupids of Scapanus townsendii. Note that the unicuspids are evenly spaced.

2

Return to couplet #1

WARNING! MODIFICATION TO KEY MADE IN THIS SECTION

• Fewer than seven unicuspid teeth behind the incisors in the mandible and maxilla; total skull length less than 32.5 mm... Scapanus anthonyi (endemic to Baja California in Mexico)
• Seven unicuspid teeth behind the incisors in the mandible and maxilla; total skull length >32.5 mm . . . . . 3

3

Return to couplet #2

• Total length >161.0 mm. Skull length >34.0 mm in males and 33.4 in females. Ratio of mastoidal breadth to greatest skull length <49%, including the population of Alameda Island, California.... Northern Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus)
• Total length <161.0 mm. Skull length <34.0 mm in males and 33.4 in females. Ratio of mastoidal breadth to greatest skull length >49%, not including the population of Alameda Island, California.... Southern Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus occultus)

• 

  Northern Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus) observed by jabbott in Willits, California.

• 

  Southern Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus occultus) observed by Justin M. Wood in San Bernardino National Forest, California.

4

Return to couplet #3

• Total length >200.0 mm on average. Sublacrimal-maxillary ridge well developed; skull >40.0 mm... Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii)
• Total length <200.0 mm on average. Sublacrimal-maxillary ridge little developed; skull <40.0 mm.... Coast Mole (Scapanus orarius)

• 

  Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii)

• 

  Coast Mole (Scapanus orarius)