Part 5 (1/2)

Microtus (Pedomys) ochrogaster (Wagner)

Fig. 31

Baculum: Stalk broad, greatest length (3.2-4.0 mm.) 1-2/3 to 2 times greatest breadth, 2-1/2 to 4 times greatest depth; median process ossified, relatively small, less than 3/10 length of stalk; lateral processes arising from subterminal part of stalk, cartilaginous or with small ossifications; posterior profile in dorsal view broadly rounded or slightly angular, widest point of stalk 1/6 to 1/4 the length of stalk from base; basal tuberosities well developed and medially confluent, in end-view dorsally convex, or at least less deeply concave than ventrally; shaft straight, base bent ventrally or more commonly dorsally; at mid-point of stalk wider than high, often twice as wide as high; viewed from above, lateral profile from point of greatest breadth to middle of shaft a gradual sigmoid curve; slight terminal inflation of shaft.

_Specimens examined_: Forty-one, of three subspecies; _Microtus ochrogaster haydeni_, Muir Springs, 2 mi. N, 2-1/2 mi. W Ft. Morgan, Morgan Co., Colorado, 74995, 74998, 74999, 75002; 1 mi. W Laird, Yuma Co., Colorado, 57304, 76833; 2 mi. N, 2 mi. W Haigler, Dundy Co., Nebraska, 75016; 2 mi. S Franklin, Franklin Co., Nebraska, 75043, 75044; Atwood, Rawlins Co., Kansas, 75020, 75023, 75025, 75027, 75028; 1 mi. N, 2 mi. E Oberlin, Decatur Co., Kansas, 75030, 75032, 75034, 75035, 75036; 1-1/2 mi. N, 1/4 mi. E Norton, Norton Co., Kansas, 68327; 1 mi. SW Norton, Norton Co., Kansas, 75037; 2 mi. S, 1 mi. W Norton, Norton Co., Kansas, 75038; _M. ochrogaster ochrogaster_, Rydal, Republic Co., Kansas, 75047-75053, 75060, 75062, 75063, 75066, 75070, 75071, 75073; 1 mi. N, 1 mi. W Holton, Jackson Co., Kansas, 75077; 2 mi. W Court House, Lawrence, Douglas Co., Kansas, 76832; Univ. Kansas Natural History Reservation, Douglas Co., Kansas, 68536; _M. ochrogaster taylori_, Meade County State Park, Kansas, 68539, 68542.

Microtus (Pitymys) pinetorum (LeConte)

Figs. 27 and 28

Baculum: Stalk broad, greatest length (2.5 to 2.7 mm.) 1-2/3 times greatest breadth, 4 times greatest depth; median process ossified, size small, 1/5 length of stalk, higher than wide, having small anterodorsal prominence in both specimens examined; lateral processes cartilaginous, relatively small, displaced posteriorly, attenuate; posterior margin in dorsal view broadly rounded, or having blunt median apex, convex throughout; basal tuberosities moderately well developed, medially confluent, barely visible in dorsal view when mature; in end-view median constriction 4/5 greatest depth, ventral concavity deeper than dorsal concavity, both comparatively shallow; stalk at mid-point 1-1/2 times as wide as deep; shaft relatively slender, bowed dorsally at tip, relatively straight otherwise; lateral profile in dorsal view a gradual concave slope from point of greatest width anteriorly to distal part of shaft.

_Specimens examined_: Two, from Douglas Co., Kansas, 76834 (2 mi. N Baldwin), 68545 (1 mi. NE Pleasant Grove).

Microtus (Pitymys) parvulus (Howell)

Fig. 40

Baculum: Stalk broad, greatest length (2.4 mm. in specimen examined) 1-3/4 times greatest breadth, 4 times greatest depth; median process ossified, size small, less than 1/4 length of stalk, wider than high, terminally flattened; lateral processes cartilaginous, relatively small, attenuate; posterior margin in dorsal view flattened, irregularly curved with concavities medially and laterally; basal tuberosities well developed, medially confluent; visible in dorsal view; in end-view median constriction 2/3 greatest depth, ventral concavity well-formed, no dorsal concavity; stalk at mid-point twice as wide as deep; shaft relatively slender, bowed dorsally toward tip; in dorsal view lateral profile a gradual concave slope from point of greatest width anteriorly to distal part of shaft; tip of shaft enlarged.

The baculum of _M. parvulus_ resembles that of _M. pinetorum_ more than it resembles the baculum of any other microtine studied, differing primarily in smaller size.

_Specimen examined_: One, from 1 mi. W Micanopy, Alachua Co., Florida, Univ. Florida No. 1508.

Microtus (Pitymys) quasiater (Coues)

Figs. 29 and 30

Baculum: Stalk broad, greatest length (2.6-3.2 mm.) 1-1/3 to 1-2/3 times greatest breadth, 3-1/3 to 3-2/3 times greatest depth; median process ossified, with ventral depression, process 1/4 to 1/3 length of stalk, appressed to tip of shaft, wider than high proximally, relatively broad terminally; lateral processes cartilaginous, small, attenuate; posterior profile of stalk in dorsal view broadly rounded, bilobate, or trilobate, median lobe formed by posterior projection of dorsal shelf between enlarged lateral tuberosities that form outer lobes, posterolateral faces of these tuberosities visible in dorsal view of stalk; in end-view dorsal surface slightly concave, ventral concavity broad and deep, median constriction 1/2 greatest depth; shaft flattened except tip that is more terete, and bowed dorsally; at mid-point, stalk twice as wide as high; shaft relatively slender terminally, narrower than median ossification.

The baculum of _M. quasiater_ is the largest and has the best developed base and median process of the three American species of the subgenus _Pitymys_. The three species closely resemble each other in basic form.

_Specimens examined_: Five, all from Veracruz; Teocelo, 4500 ft., 30709, 30711; 4 km. N Tlapacoyan, 1700 ft., 24466; 5 km. N Jalapa, 4500 ft., 19869, 19878.

Microtus (Pitymys) fatioi (Mottaz)

Fig. 26

The baculum of a single specimen (KU 67103) of _M. fatioi_ from Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland, was examined. The baculum is immature, as evidenced by its small size, slender stalk and absence of ossified processes, therefore no characterization is included.

The baculum of another Old World species of the subgenus _Pitymys_, _M.

pyrenaicus_ from France, figured and described by Didier (1954:242-243), differs from all New World _Pitymys_ examined in processing ossified lateral processes.

The status of _Pitymys_, as a genus or as a subgenus, is uncertain. Hall and c.o.c.krum (1953:448) considered the North American _Pitymys_ and _Pedomys_ as subgenera of _Microtus_. They did not state specifically the basis for this point of view, but mention the fact that these two subgenera (_Pitymys_ and _Pedomys_) closely resemble each other cranially. These authors did not study nor comment upon the status of the Old World _Pitymys_. It may be asked whether the Old World and New World _Pitymys_ have developed as fossorial _Microtus_ independently, or from an ancestor common to both groups and not common to any other _Microtus_.

Matthey (1955:202) found 62 chromosomes (2N) in both the New World _Pitymys pinetorum_ and the Old World _Pitymys duodecimcostatus_. This suggests, but does not prove, common ancestry.