Mammalogy Practical - Species names, species ID and characteristics

NR 712 - UNH

Protogomorphous

• zygomasseteric structure type

• masseter muscle connects simply to the zygomatic arch

• ex: mountain beaver

Sciuromorphous

• zygomasseteric structure type

• small infraorbital foramen

• masseter goes up and around zygomatic arch, attached to zygomatic plate

• ex: squirrel

Myomorphous

• zygomasseteric structure type

• Large infraorbital foramen

• masseter travels through infraorbital foramen, attached to zygomatic plate

• Mouse

Hystricomorphous

• zygomasseteric structure type

• HUGE infraorbital foramen

• masseter muscle travels through foramen and attached to maxilla

• ex: porcupine

Sciurognath Mandible Shape

• Angular process on the same plane as the incisors

• “V” shaped

• ex: Squirrels

Hystricognath Mandible Shape

• Angular process originates lateral to plane of incisors

• “U” shaped

• ex: Porcupine

Leporidae family - skull ID characteristics

• 2 sets up upper incisors, one behind the other

• maxilla is fenestrated on the side of the rostrum (lattice)

• uniquely shaped post orbital process, very pronounced

Sciuridae Family - skull ID characteristics

• bunodont teeth

• post orbital process present

• sciuromorphous (tiny infraorbital foramen, zygomatic plate)

• rounded or humped skull profile

Zapodidae family - skull ID characteristics

• grooved upper incisors

• hystricomorphs (very large infraorbital foramen, unlike other mouse skulls)

Cervidae family - skull ID characteristics

• upper incisors + canines lost in most (or reduced)

• cheek teeth range from bunodont to selenodont

• many have antlers or horns

Mustelidae family - skull ID characteristics

• shorter rostrum

• unique last molar, looks turned inward

• long, big braincase

• C-shaped glenoid fossa

• prominent carnassials

Mephitidae family - skull ID characteristics

• long rostrums

• flat auditory bullae

• *Square shaped last molar, in line with palate

Castoridae family - skull ID characteristics

• sciuromorphous (tiny infraorbital foramen)

• post orbital process present

• flattened skull profile

• jugal bone broad, contacts lacrimal

• lophodont teeth (looks like maze)

Erethizontidae family - skull ID characteristics

• hystricomorphous (HUGE infraorbital foramen)

• jugal bone doesn’t contact lacrimal bone

Cricetidae family - skull ID characteristics

• myomorphous (large infraorbital foramen, zygomatic plate

• Mice: Peromyscus

  • bunodont cheek teeth

  • no post orbital process

• Lemmings: Synaptomys

  • prismatic cheek teeth

  • no post orbital process, bit of a bump

  • grooved upper incisors

• Voles: Microtus / Myodes

  • prismatic cheek teeth, lots of ridges

  • no post orbital process, bit of a bump

Felidae family - skull ID characteristics

• short rostrum

• orbital ALMOST a complete circle

• well developed post orbital process

• secodont cheek teeth

Canidae family - skull ID characteristics

• large braincase

• well developed sagittal crest

• no postorbital process

Ursidae family - skull ID characteristics

• small auditory bullae

• bunodont cheek teeth

• carnassials for crushing not slicing

Procyonidae family - skull ID characteristics

• short rostrum

• bunodont cheek teeth throughout (no specialized molar like Mustelidae and mephitidae

Phocidae family - skull ID characteristics

• very sharp cheek teeth

• no postorbital process (or reduced)

Pinniped vs Fissiped skull

• pinniped - 2 lower incisors

• fissipeds - 3 lower incisors

Northern flying squirrel vs Southern flying squirrel ID tips

• belly fur

  • northern flying squirrel - grey at base of the strand

  • southern flying squirrel - white at base of the strand

• tail fur

  • northern flying squirrel - thickly furred to the tip

  • southern flying squirrel - fur tapers to the tip

Leporidae species ID tips

• Size

  • snowshoe hare larger than the others, large ears and feet

• color

  • snowshoe hare sometimes white (winter color)

• front nasal suture

  • eastern cottontail - jagged front nasal suture

  • new england cottontail - smooth front nasal suture

jumping mouse (zapodidae) species ID tips

• tail tip color

  • meadow jumping mouse - no white tip on the tail

  • woodland jumping mouse - white tipped tail

• tail length

  • meadow jumping mouse - slightly shorter tail

  • woodland jumping mouse - slightly longer tail

deer mouse vs white footed mouse species ID tips

• tail color

  • deer mouse - tail fur is distinctly bicolored

  • white footed mouse - not sharply bicolored

• tail fur

  • deer mouse - tail fur extends beyond tip of tail

  • white footed mouse - tail fur does not extend beyond tip

mice vs voles vs lemming - ID tips

• Mice

  • large ears, large eyes, long tails

  • bunodont cheek teeth

• Voles

  • short ears, small eyes, tails longer than lemming shorter than mice

  • prismatic cheek teeth

• Lemming

  • short ears, small eyes, short tails

  • prismatic cheek teeth

  • grooved upper incisors

southern bog lemming vs pine vole - species ID tip

• similar tail sized, but pine vole has more velvety fur

• pine vole has more mole like features

southern bog lemming vs rock vole - species ID tip

• similar pelage but rock vole has a longer tail

Felidae species ID tips

• Auditory bullae foramen

  • bobcat - 1

  • lynx - 2

• bobcat has longer tail

• lynx has longer mutton chops

• lynx has longer tail

• lynx has tufts at top of ears, bobcat does not

• lynx has longer legs

• lynx hairy all throughout feet, feet large

Canidae species ID tips

• skull size

  • coyote - largest

  • grey fox - smallest

  • red fox - medium, closer to grey fox

• sagittal crest

  • coyote - starts very close to orbits/rostrum

  • grey fox - “U” shaped, farther back

  • red fox - “V” shaped, farther back

• dentary

  • grey fox - dentary on an angle towards back of jaw

  • red fox - dentary in a straight line towards back of jaw

• angular process a bit more pronounced in grey fox

Glenoid fossa shape

• C shaped: restrict lateral movement, facilitates up and down movement, strong hinge (ex: mustelids)

• Omnivores: more “open” glenoid fossa, allows for lateral movement (ex: bears)

Hypercarnivore

diet = >70% meat

Mesocarnivore

diet = 50-70% meat

Hypocarnivore

diet = <30% meat

North American river otter species ID characteristics

• flat auditory bullae

• last molar ends before palate begins

American Mink vs American Marten species ID characteristics

• sagittal crest

  • American mink - sagittal crest begins closer to orbits

  • American marten - sagittal crest begins further from orbits

fisher vs American marten

• sagittal crest

  • fisher - sagittal crest extends beyond end of skull, little bump

  • American marten - sagittal crest doesn’t extend beyond skull

• back of skull shape

  • fisher - hexagonal, sharp edges

  • American marten - rounded, half circle

Raccoon vs skunk vs weasel skull ID tips

• Raccoon (Procyonidae) - bunodont teeth throughout

• Skunk (Mephitidae) - Large square last molar, flat auditory bullae

• Weasel (Mustelidae) - Unique last molar, looks turned inwards