Microtus mexicanus

Microtus mexicanus is a species found in Mexico that originally included disjunct populations in the United States that are now recognized as Microtus mogollonensis.

Analyses of molecular variation published in 2011 by Crawford et al. provided additional support for the recognition of Microtus mogollonensis. Additionally, Crawford et al. (2011) stated: "Taxonomic revision has been recommended from studies of morphological, karyotypical, and molecular evidence (Lee and Endler 1977, Judd 1980, Wilhelm 1982, Modi 1987, Frey and LaRue 1993, Frey 2009). The topology uncovered in this study is a departure from previous studies that have suggested a "north-south" division within the Mexican vole, with populations in the United States being a species distinct from populations in Mexico. In part, the north-south dichotomy was based on differences in the diploid chromosome number, morphology, and allozyme variation between the 2 regions (Modi 1987, Frey 1989, 2009)."

References

Crawford DL, Dragoo JW, Smith FA, Chavez AN. 2011. Diversification within the Mexican vole (Microtus mexicanus) and the role of post-Pleistocene climate change. Western North American Naturalist 71(2): 176-194.

Frey JK. 2009. Genetics of allopatric populations of the montane vole (Microtus montanus) and Mogollon vole (Microtus mogollonensis) in the American Southwest. Western North American Naturalist 69(2): 215-222.

Frey JK. 1989. Morphologic variation in the Mexican vole (Microtus mexicanus). Doctoral dissertation. University of New Mexico.

Frey JK, LaRue CT. 1993. Notes on the distribution of the Mogollon vole (Microtus mogollonensis) in New Mexico and Arizona. The Southwestern Naturalist 38(2): 176-178.

Judd SR. 1980. Observations of the chromosome variation in Microtus mexicanus (Rodentia: Microtinae). Mammalian Chromosome Newsletter 21: 110-113.

Lee MR, Elder FF. 1977. Karyotypes of eight species of Mexican rodents (Muridae). Journal of Mammalogy 58(4): 479-487.

Modi WS, Lee MR. 1984. Systematic implications of chromosomal banding analyses of populations of Peromyscus truei (Rodentia: Muridae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 97(4): 716-723.

Wilhelm DE. 1977. Zoogeographic and evolutionary relationships of selected populations of Microtus mexicanus. Doctoral dissertation. Texas Tech University.