Zapus hudsonius
| Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse
(Zapus hudsonius) | |
|---|---|
| Range | |
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| Taxonomic classification | |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Suborder: | Supramyomorpha |
| Infraorder: | Myomorphi |
| Superfamily: | Dipodoidea |
| Family: | Zapodidae |
| Genus: | Zapus |
| Binomial details | |
| Zapus hudsonius (E. A. W. von Zimmermann, 1780) | |
| Other resources | |
| Full taxonomic details at MDD | |
Malaney et al. (2017) recognized 9 species within the genus Zapus, elevating some of the subspecies recognized by Krutzsch (1954) to species status. Genetic analyses by Malaney et al. (2017) revealed that Zapus hudsonius pallidus is closely related to Zapus princeps luteus and that together they are more related to each other than to other subspecies in Z. hudsonius and Z. princeps. As a result, Malaney et al. (2017) proposed moving both subspecies to Zapus luteus. In the range map on the right, the dark range represents Malaney et al.'s (2017) distribution based on genetic analyses and niche-based distribution modeling. The lightly shaded area represents the former range of Zapus hudsonius based on earlier taxonomy-based approaches (using morphology). The work of Malaney et al. (2017) has importantly exposed cryptic diversity and putative new species within Zapus. Further studies will be needed to fully understand new species boundaries and morphological variation.
Description
From Krutzsch (1954): "General pelage coarse; color of pelage varies somewhat in different species but always follows single basic pattern of broad dorsal band of some shade of brown or brownish-yellow darkened with brownish-black, sides of a lighter tone and slightly streaked with brownish-black, underparts snow-white, sometimes suffused with color of the sides and usually separated from color of sides by sharp line of clear brownish-yellow; backs of forefeet and hind feet grayish-white; tail distinctly bicolor, dark brown above and yellowish-white below; ears dark and narrowly edged with light color."
From Armstrong et al. (2010) for Colorado: "The meadow jumping mouse is a small mouse with large hindlegs and feet and a long, sparsely haired tail that usually makes up at least 60 percent of the total length. The dorsal color is grayish to yellowish brown with the sides paler in color. The venter is white. The pelage is rather harsh in texture relative to that of most other small mice. Intermixed dark hairs in the dorsal area form an indistinct mid-dorsal band or stripe, usually less pronounced than in the larger western jumping mouse [Zapus princeps]."
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Best & Dusi (2014) | 192 (175–225) (n=18) | 114 (97–127) (n=18) | 27 (24–29) (n=18) | 11 (8–13) (n=13) | 16.3 (10.5–23.0) (n=12) |
| Alaska (Yakutat, Z. h. alascensis type locality) | Preble (1899) | 218 (n=4) | 132 (n=4) | 31.5 (n=4) | ||
| British Columbia (Kamloops, Z. h. tenellus type locality) | Merriam (1897) | 208 (n=4) | 128.5 (n=4) | 31 (n=4) | ||
| British Columbia (Kamloops, Z. h. tenellus type) | Merriam (1897) | 216 | 134 | 31 | ||
| Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland | Webster et al. (1985) | 194–215 | 110–132 | 26–30 | ||
| Colorado | Armstrong et al. (2010) | 187–255 | 108–155 | 28–35 | 16–28 | |
| Minnesota | Hazard (1982) | 205–226 | 122–135 | 28–31 | 12–14 | 13.2–25.1 |
| North Carolina (Raleigh) | Preble (1899) | 191.3 (n=7) | 115.4 (n=7) | 28.3 (n=7) | ||
| North Dakota | Seabloom et al. (2020) | 207 | 120 | 29 | 13 | 19 |
| Virginia | Linzey (1998) | 185–225 | 110–150 | 12–28 | ||
| Washington D.C. | Preble (1899) | 198.5 (n=2) | 117.5 (n=2) | 28 (n=2) | ||
| Wyoming (Bear Lodge Mountain, Z. h. campestris type locality) | Preble (1899) | 222 (n=4) | 135 (n=4) | 30.5 (n=4) |
Skull
The type locality for this species is Fort Severn, Hudson Bay, Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately, the type specimen is lost (ASM Mammal Diversity Database, 2026).
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NEON01IFU. Dorsal view of the skull of Zapus hudsonius. -
NEON01IFU. Ventral view of the skull of Zapus hudsonius. -
NEON01IFU. Lateral view of the skull of Zapus hudsonius. -
NEON01IFU. Dorsal view of the lower jaw of Zapus hudsonius. -
NEON01IFU. Molars (m1-m3) of the lower jaw of Zapus hudsonius. -
NEON01IFU. Grooved upper incisors of Zapus hudsonius. -
NEON01J05. Upper molars M1 and M2 of Zapus hudsonius. Arrows point to the isolated paracones on the M1 and M2. -
NEON092X0. Upper molars M1 and M2 of Zapus hudsonius. Arrows point to the isolated paracones on the M1 and M2.
Footprint
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NEON08I3U. Zapus hudsonius. Front right footprint. -
NEON08I3U. Zapus hudsonius. Hind right footprint.
Habitat
From Jones et al. (1981): "In Colorado Zapus princeps is almost exclusively montane and Z . hudsonius is almost exclusively restricted to the piedmont abutting the mountains; hence the zone of overlap is relatively narrow."
Taxonomic notes
Genetic analyses by Malaney et al. (2017) revealed that Zapus hudsonius pallidus is closely related to Zapus princeps luteus and that together they are more related to each other than to other subspecies in Z. hudsonius and Z. princeps. As a result, Malaney et al. (2017) proposed moving both subspecies to Zapus luteus. In the range map below, the dark range represents Malaney et al.'s (2017) distribution based on genetic analyses and niche-based distribution modeling, lightly shaded area represents the former range of Zapus hudsonius based on earlier taxonomy-based approaches (using morphology). The work of Malaney et al. (2017) has importantly exposed cryptic diversity and putative new species within Zapus. Further studies will be needed to fully understand new species boundaries and morphological variation.
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Zapus hudsonius subspecies boundaries as defined by Krutzsch (1954). -
Distribution of Zapus hudsonius based on genetic analyses and niche-based geographic distribution modeling by Malaney et al. (2017).
Similar species
Comparison with Napaeozapus
Members of the genus Napaeozapus differ from Zapus in having 3 rather than 4 molariform teeth. They further differ from Zapus hudsonius in having the tip of the tail white.
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Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) -
Eastern Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus insignis)
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Cheekteeth (molariform teeth) of Zapus. -
Cheekteeth (molariform teeth) of Napaeozapus.
Comparison with other Zapus
Where Zapus hudsonius is sympatric with the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps) and the Northwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus saltator), it may be possible to differentiate these species based on size, but this can be difficult in the field. Differentiating Zapus hudsonius and the Southern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus luteus) in the field may not currently be possible using morphological characters. A formal taxonomic revision of Zapus luteus is needed and may identify suitable characters for differentiating this species.
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Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) -
Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps) -
Northwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus saltator)
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Area of sympatry for Z. hudsonius and Z. princeps 
Area of sympatry for Z. hudsonius and Z. saltator 
Ranges for Z. hudsonius and Z. luteus. The area of sympatry is not defined.
Comparison with Zapus princeps
The ranges of Zapus hudsonius and the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps), as defined by Malaney et al. (2017), overlap in southern Wyoming, Colorado, and southern Montana. From Jones (1981), comparison of Zapus hudsonius and the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps) in Colorado: "The color of the two species in this area is not useful in differentiating between the species... Zapus princeps is larger (best expressed in zygomatic breadth and bacular length) and exhibits attached paracones in the M1 and M2 as opposed to free paracones in Z. hudsonius. Zapus princeps is a montane species as opposed to Z. hudsonius, which is limited, almost entirely, to the piedmont."
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Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius). Lincoln County, Wisconsin. -
Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps). Niwot Ridge, Boulder County, Colorado. -
Upper molars M1 and M2 of the Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius). Arrows point to the isolated paracones on the M1 and M2. See image of Zapus princeps for comparison. -
Upper molars M1 and M2 of the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps). Note that paracone on the M1 and M2 are attached to the body of the tooth. See image of Zapus hudsonius for comparison.
Based on Krutzsch (1954) and Frey (2008), the color of the ear fringe is useful for distinguishing Z. hudsonius from the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps). The ears of Z. hudsonius are dark and narrowly edged with the color of sides or edged with ochraceous, while the ears of Z. princeps are dark and edged with white or yellowish-white.
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The ears of the Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) are dark and narrowly edged with the color of their sides or edged with ochraceous. -
The ears of the Southwestern Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps) ears are dark and edged with white or yellowish-white.
References
Armstrong DM, Fitzgerald JP, Meaney CA. 2010. Mammals of Colorado, Second Edition. Denver (CO, USA): University Press of Colorado.
Best TL, Dusi JL. 2014. Mammals of Alabama (Vol. 4). Tuscaloosa (AL, USA): University Alabama Press.
Frey JK. 2008. Morphology and genetics of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus). Final Report submitted to New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Hart EB, Belk MC, Jordan E, Gonzalez MW. 2004. Zapus princeps. Mammalian Species (749): pp.1-7.
Hazard EB. 1982. The mammals of Minnesota. Minneapolis (MN, USA): University of Minnesota Press.
Jones GS. 1981. The systematics and biology of the genus Zapus (Mammalia, Rodentia, Zapodidae)(Canada, United States) (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana State University).
Krutzsch PH. 1954. North American jumping mice (genus Zapus). University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History 7:349-472. Link
Linzey DW. 1998. The mammals of Virginia. McDonald & Woodward Publishing.
MacDonald SO. 2003. The small mammals of Alaska; a field handbook of the shrews and small rodents. [unpublished field guide].
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.
Naughton D. 2012. The natural history of Canadian mammals. Toronto (ON, CA): University of Toronto Press.
Seabloom R, Hoganson JW, Jensen WF. 2020. The mammals of North Dakota. Fargo (ND, USA): North Dakota State University Press.
Webster WD, Parnell JF, Biggs WC. 1985. Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. Chapel Hill (NC, USA): University of North Carolina Press.
Whitaker JO, Wrigley RE. 1972. Napaeozapus insignis. Mammalian species (14): 1-6.
Zimmermann EAW von. 1780. Geographische Geschichte des Menschen, und der vierfüßigen Thiere. Zweiter Band. Weygandsche Buchhandlung, Leipzig, 432 pp.
Zapus hudsonius (ASM Mammal Diversity Database #1002014) fetched May 9, 2026. Mammal Diversity Database. 2026. https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1002014/