Mammalian Taxonomy and Osteology Lab

Flashcards reviewing anatomical, cranial, dental, and diagnostic traits of mammal specimens from mammalian taxonomy laboratory notes.

Siamang (Family Hylobatidae)

A type of gibbon (Magnorder: Boreoeutheria, Superorder: Supraprimates, Order: Primates, Suborder: Haplorhini, Parvorder: Catarrhini) characterized by a post-orbital plate, short rostrum/flat face, omnivorous bunodont dentition, and $8$ premolars.

Lemurs (generic)

Primates (Suborder: Strepsirrhini) endemic to Madagascar featuring a longer rostrum, post-orbital bar, bunodont dentition, and a pectinate lower incisor/tooth comb.

Tarsier

A primate (Suborder: Haplorhini) from Southeast Asia characterized by alien-like large orbits relative to the cranium, a partially closed orbital bar/plate, enlarged medial incisors, and very sharp bunodont cusps.

Ochotona princeps (American Pika)

A member of Order Lagomorpha (Family: Ochotonidae) found on alpine rocky slopes of the western US and Canada; characterized by a fenestrated maxilla but NOT parietal, duplicodont upper incisors, diprotodonty, a thin zygomatic arch compared with leporids, and NO supraorbital process.

Colugo ("Flying Lemur")

A member of Order Dermoptera native to Southeast Asia; characterized by pectinate lower incisors (tooth comb), large orbits, a nearly complete post-orbital bar, tribosphenic cheek teeth, and $90^{\circ}$ supraorbital processes.

Lepus californicus (Black-tailed Jackrabbit)

A lagomorph (Family: Leporidae) native to the Western U.S. characterized by very long legs and a skull generally similar to other leporids but larger in size.

Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cottontail)

A leporid common throughout most of the eastern U.S. characterized by a fenestrated maxilla and parietal, duplicodont upper incisors, diprotodonty, prominent supraorbital and post-orbital processes, and hypsodont molars with transverse ridges; pelage is light to reddish brown with a light belly, cotton-white short tail, red spot often on neck nape, and ears more pointed than S. obscurus.

Sylvilagus obscurus (Appalachian Cottontail)

A leporid native to the central Appalachia region characterized by a fenestrated maxilla and parietal, duplicodont upper incisors, diprotodonty, prominent supraorbital and post-orbital processes, hypsodont molars with transverse ridges, dark brown to gray-brown pelage with a light belly, white short tail, black border around the ears, often a black forehead spot, and slightly smaller, less pointed ears than S. floridanus.

Lepus americanus (Snowshoe Hare)

A leporid inhabiting boreal forests and grasslands with snow, exhibiting highly cyclical populations; features a fenestrated maxilla and parietal, duplicodont upper incisors, diprotodonty, prominent supraorbital and postorbital processes, hypsodont molars with transverse ridges, wider snowshoe-like feet, shorter ears, and pelage that turns white in winter and brown to brown-white in summer.

Elephant Shrew (Family Macroscelididae)

A small mammal (Order: Macroscelidea) that exhibits convergent evolution with shrews/rodents; feeds on insects and small prey, featuring a thin complete zygomatic arch, dilambdodont dentition, prominent canines, palatal fenestrae, large orbits relative to skull size, and prominent auditory bullae.

Procavia capensis (Rock Hyrax)

An ancient paenungulate of Africa (Order: Hyracoidea, Family: Procaviidae) that superficially resembles a rabbit or groundhog; herbivorous with "sticky" padded feet, nailed manus/pedis, and surcisor iris; skull features a tall dentary, prominent incisors with diastema, small auditory bullae, lophodont molars, and a sharp post-orbital process.

Mammuthus columbi

An extinct paenungulate (Order: Proboscidea, Family: Elephantidae) that fed on grassy and woody vegetation (primarily a grazer) and possessed loxodont molars that were replaced via mesial drift.

Mammut americanus

An extinct proboscidean (Family: Mammutidae) with a woody vegetation diet (primarily a browser) that possessed zygodont molars replaced via mesial drift.

Aardvark (Orycteropus)

A $180\text{--}200\,\text{lb}$ pig-like, myrmecophagous insectivore (Order: Tubulidentata, Family: Orycteropodidae) possessing powerful front claws, rabbit-like ears, a long slender dentary, extensive turbinates in the snout, and $20\text{--}22$ rootless, enamel-less columnar cheek teeth that are hexagonal and composed of dentine.

Streaked Tenrec (Hemicentetes semispinosus)

A mammal endemic to Madagascar (Order: Afrosoricida, Family: Tenrecidae) exhibiting quills, rolling into a ball, and convergent evolution/body style with moles and shrews; its skull lacks a zygomatic arch and auditory bullae, and features zalambdodont dentition.

Blarina brevicauda (Northern Short-tailed Shrew)

A venomous shrew (Order: Eulipotyphla, Family: Soricidae) with gray color, a short-haired tail, and a length $> 90\,\text{mm}$; features teeth with very light goethite pigmentation primarily confined to procumbent front incisors.

Sorex fumeus (Smoky Shrew)

The largest Sorex species in Kentucky, having a total length $> 107\,\text{mm}$, gray or light brown pelage, and a bicolored tail in most of KY.

Cryptotis parva (Least Shrew)

A small shrew found statewide in Kentucky with body length $< 90\,\text{mm}$, tail length $< 30\,\text{mm}$, more brownish coloration than Blarina, and a snout with more fleshy exposure.

Sorex hoyi (Pygmy Shrew)

The smallest Sorex species, characterized by a total length $< 90\,\text{mm}$, a thin bicolored tail, and reddish coat coloration.

Sorex cinereus (Masked Shrew)

A soricid with a length of $\sim 90\text{--}117\,\text{mm}$ and a longer, thicker tail; distributed mainly in eastern KY (southeast mountains) with an isolated population in Owensboro, KY.

Solenodon cubanus (Cuban Solenodon)

An insectivore (Family: Solenodontidae) featuring envenomating lower incisors, zalambdodont dentition, and a skull lacking a zygomatic arch.

Erinaceus europaeus (European Hedgehog)

An erinaceid mammal characterized by bunodont dentition, a slender zygomatic arch, continuous orbit and temporal fossa, and the absence of auditory bullae.

Scalopus aquaticus (Eastern Mole)

A fossorial talpid approximately $\sim 6''$ long with smooth fur, a hairless tail, and oval-shaped vestigial eyes; skull exhibits a complete zygomatic arch with a flattened, carnivore-like dental appearance.

Parascalops breweri (Hairy-tailed Mole)

A talpid restricted to eastern Kentucky (within the state) characterized by a hairy tail, more rounded manus, vestigial eyes, and a complete zygomatic arch on a flattened carnivore-like skull.

Family Myrmecophagidae (Anteaters)

A group of specialized myrmecophagous xenarthrans with a super-long snout, an $18''$ long tongue, very restricted jaw movement, lots of turbinates, no teeth, no zygomatic arch, $5/5$ digits with $3$ powerful backhoe-like claws on the manus, and plantigrade rear feet.

Three-toed Sloth (Family Bradypodidae)

An arboreal xenarthran with $9$ cervical vertebrae and $3/3$ clawed digits; cranium is compact with an incomplete zygomatic arch formed by the jugal bone, and teeth display enamel-less peg-like homodonty with root hypsodonty.

Dasypus mexicanus (Mexican Long-nosed Armadillo)

An armored insectivore (Order: Cingulata, Family: Dasypodidae) characterized by rootless peg-like teeth with weak initial enamel crowns, extra spinal articulations for stability, powerful front digging claws, a complete zygomatic arch, a wide lacrimal invadung the orbit, and a tapered snout.

Ondatra zibethicus (Muskrat)

A very large cricetid rodent (Subfamily: Arvicolinae) featuring a laterally keeled ratty tail, partially webbed rear feet with stiff-haired toes, and prismatic molars.

Rattus norvegicus (Norway/Roof Rat)

A murid rodent displaying a prototypical rat shape, gray-brown pelage, brownish feet, and a tail shorter than the combined length of the head and body.

Neotoma magister (Allegheny Woodrat)

A rat-sized cricetid (Subfamily: Neotominae) characterized by grayish-light brown pelage, long whiskers, a distally bicolored tail, and prismatic molars.

Oryzomys palustris (Marsh Rice Rat)

A cricetid rodent (Subfamily: Sigmodontinae) with reddish/brown/silver dorsal pelage, lighter sides, a grayish-white belly, and a long tail.

Sigmodon hispidus (Hispid Cotton Rat)

A medium-sized sigmodontine rodent with yellowish-brown-gray upper pelage, a pale gray belly, a sparsely haired tail shorter than the body, and bunodont dentition.

Microtus pinetorum (Pine Vole)

An arvicoline vole with russet-brown/chestnut dorsal pelage, a gray or cinnamon belly, and a tail that is longer than the hind foot and not sharply bicolored.

Clethrionomys gapperi (Southern Red-backed Vole)

An arvicoline vole found in far eastern Kentucky, characterized by a distinct reddish dorsal stripe, grayish sides, and a tail roughly $\sim 2\times$ the length of the hind foot.

Synaptomys cooperi (Southern Bog Lemming)

An arvicoline rodent characterized by gray-brown/grizzled dorsal pelage, tufts of black hair on the hind feet, and a short tail measuring $< \frac{1}{3}$ of the body length.

Microtus ochrogaster (Prairie Vole)

A medium-sized vole with grizzled brown-gray pelage, a short, slightly bicolored tail, and a third upper molar displaying $2$ closed triangles.

Microtus pennsylvanicus (Meadow Vole)

An arvicoline rodent with silver-tipped belly hair, small ears, and a sharply bicolored tail that measures $2\times$ the length of the hind foot.

Napaeozapus insignis (Woodland Jumping Mouse)

A dipodid rodent characterized by extraordinarily large hind feet and a very long tail tipped distinctly with white.

Zapus hudsonicus (Meadow Jumping Mouse)

A dipodid rodent possessing large hind feet and a very long tail ending in a blackish tip.

Reithrodontomys humulis (Eastern Harvest Mouse)

A tiny neotomine mouse measuring $< 125\,\text{mm}$ total length, usually smaller than a house mouse, featuring blackish, gray-brown pelage.

Ochrotomys nuttalli (Golden Mouse)

A neotomine rodent of similar body size to a deer mouse, easily identified by its deep golden-orange pelage.

Erethizon dorsatum (North American Porcupine)

A groundhog-sized, arboreal hystricomorph rodent characterized by barbed quills (modified hairs), a short-stout body, and an exceptionally large (HUGE) infraorbital foramen.

Capybara (Family Caviidae)

The world's largest living rodent, possessing a giant infraorbital foramen and a foot-long skull.

Peromyscus maniculatus (Deer Mouse)

A cricetid rodent with a reddish-brown back, white belly, and sharply bicolored tail that is often shorter than the head and body length; distinguished by dark gray-based throat hairs, smaller hind feet ($16\text{--}19\,\text{mm}$), and larger ears ($15\text{--}18\,\text{mm}$) often thinly margined with white.

Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed Mouse)

A cricetid rodent with a reddish-brown coat and a bicolored tail showing a black gradient (often longer than head and body); distinguished by throat hairs that are white all the way to the base, larger hind feet ($19\text{--}22\,\text{mm}$), and smaller/shorter ears ($13\text{--}16\,\text{mm}$).

Mus musculus (House Mouse)

A small murid rodent with small eyes and uniform gray pelage that becomes slightly lighter towards the venter.

Cynomys ludovicianus (Black-tailed Prairie Dog)

A ground squirrel (Family: Sciuridae) exhibiting sciurimorphous jaw architecture and light/faded brown-whitish pelage.

Townsend's Pocket Gopher (Family Geomyidae)

A fossorial castorimorph rodent characterized by prominent curved upper and lower incisors presented outside the lips/mouth, as well as sharp front digging claws.

Desert Kangaroo Rat (Family Heteromyidae)

A ricochetal rodent featuring elongated hind feet, a long tail used for balance, massive auditory bullae, and partially fused cervical vertebrae.

Marmota monax (Groundhog / Woodchuck)

A large sciurid inhabiting grasslands and pastures; features a flat cranium, cuspidate teeth, broad post-orbital processes set at approximately $\sim 90^{\circ}$ to the long axis of the skull, and red-brown pelage grizzled with gray or black hair tips, with darker feet, head, and tail.

Castor canadensis (American Beaver)

A large semi-aquatic rodent weighing $30\text{--}75\,\text{lbs}$ with reddish-brown fur and a black, paddle-like scaly tail; cranium is large, robust, and flattened with sciuromorphous jaw architecture, diprotodonty, lophodont molars, and a distinct bony tube surrounding the external acoustic meatus.

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Red Squirrel)

The smallest tree squirrel (body $< 350\,\text{mm}$, skull $< 30\,\text{mm}$); features a convex/rounded cranium, diprotodonty, sciuromorphous jaw architecture, cuspidate cheek teeth, rufous/reddish pelage, a white eye ring, and sometimes a black lateral line separating the reddish back from the whitish belly.

Sciurus niger (Eastern Fox Squirrel)

A large tree squirrel with total length $> 500\,\text{mm}$; features a convex cranium, yellow incisors, rufous-brown-gray pelage with an orange-red belly/venter, and a long bushy tail; typical of savanna-woodlands and forest edges.

Sciurus carolinensis (Eastern Gray Squirrel)

A sciurid with total length $< 500\,\text{mm}$, characterized by solid gray dorsal pelage with a whitish to light gray belly, yellow incisors, a rounded cranium, and sciuromorphous jaw architecture; common in forests, parks, and urban areas.

Aplodontia rufa (Mountain Beaver)

A primitive rodent (Family: Aplodontiidae) from the Pacific Northwest wetlands; characterized by protrogomorphous jaw architecture, an exceptionally wide zygomatic spread, diprotodonty, flat cranium, and flask-shaped auditory bullae.

Ictidomys tridecemlineatus (13-lined Ground Squirrel)

A prairie ground squirrel characterized by tan ventral coloration with rufous hind legs and a dorsal pattern consisting of multiple dark stripes interspersed with longitudinal rows of whitish spots.

Tamias striatus (Eastern Chipmunk)

A sciurid with a rounded skull and sciuromorphous jaws; exhibits brown-red-gray dorsal pelage, a light facial stripe above the eye, and a dark brown/black mid-dorsal stripe bordered by grayish orange-brown stripes.

Glaucomys volans (Southern Flying Squirrel)

A small arboreal sciurid equipped with a patagium gliding membrane, displaying gray-silvery or cinnamon upper pelage, creamy white to beige venter, and a rounded cuspidate skull.