Practical Skulls

Glaucomys volans

Glaucomys volans

- smallest squirrel skull

- 1/3 of pinky size

- 5 teeth w/ an anterior peg tooth

Tamias striatus

- infraorbital holes (instead of canals)

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

- 2nd smallest squirrel skull

- 2/3 of pinky size

- 4 teeth

Sciurus carolinensis

- 3rd largest squirrel skull

- size of entire pinky

- 5 teeth w/ an anterior peg tooth

Sciurus niger

- 2nd largest squirrel skull

- size of entire pinky

- 4 teeth

Marmota monax

- largest squirrel skull

- dense skull

- teeth for grinding

Myocastor coypus

- enormous infraorbital foramen

- very extended paroccipital process

Castor canadensis

- small infraorbital foramen

- elongated external auditory meatus

- broad jugal

Erethizon dorsatum

- large infraorbital foramen

- small paroccipital process

Mus musculus

- smallest skull

- notch in incisors

Rattus norvegicus

- plain skull w/ raised temporal ridge

Rattus rattus

- bad condition (dark/dirty) w/ raised temporal ridge

Microtus spp.

- small holes further back in skull

- broader opening

Ondatra zibethicus

- postorbital process makes a square-shape

- size of entire pointer finger

Ochrotomys spp.

- golden skull

Peromyscus spp.

- small holes further forward in the skull

- squre/u-shaped hole opening

Reithrodontomys humulis

- teeny tiny skull

- front teeth have grooves

Lepus spp.

- postorbital process doesn't extend to parietal

Sylvilagus spp.

- postorbital process extends to parietal

Didelphis viriginiana

- prominent sagittal crest

- fenestrated palatine

Soricidae

- no zygomatic arch

- colorful (iron) teeth

Talpidae

- has zygomatic arch

- white teeth

Mustela erminea

- 3 premolars

- no mandible

- deep brain case

- size of 1 knuckle

Mustela frenata

- 3 premolars

- deep brain case

- size of 2 knuckles

Mustela vison

- flat edge on back

- 3 premolars

- size of pointer finger

Martes americana

- 4 premolars

- auditory bullae septae

- size of pointer finger

Lontra canadensis

- round & shiny/glossy

- very light

Mephitidae

- square molars

Procyon lotor

- bunodont

Canis lupus

- carnassial pair

- broad rostrum

Canis latrans

- carnassial pair

- narrow rostrum

vulpes vulpes

- v-shaped temporal ridge

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

- u-shaped temporal ridge

Lynx rufus

- short rostrum

- very pointy postorbital process

- 2 upper premolars

- missing bottom incisors

- left broken zygomatic arch

Puma concolor

- short rostrum

- very pointy postorbital process

- 3 upper premolars

Ursus americanus

- bunodont

- large & dense

- in bad condition

Phocidae

- broad

- no postorbital process

- porous frontal bone

- unique teeth

Equus caballus

Sus scrofa

Odocoileus virginianus

Odocoileus hemionus

Bison bison

Tursiops spp.