METHODS

Adults of approximately equal age were compared in the study of geographic variation. Three criteria of adulthood are: (a) suture obliterated between supraoccipital and exoccipital, (b) suture at least partly obliterated between basisphenoid and basioccipital, (c) supraorbital crests not widely separated and almost parallel. In males the crests encroach on the lateral borders of the interparietal; in females the crests approach the lateral borders of the interparietal but are more widely separated than in males.

Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of Thomomys bottae in southwestern Colorado.

In studying geographic variation, greater emphasis was placed on females than on males. As noted by Grinnell (1931:4), males vary more than females, especially in length of rostrum and associated nasal measurements.

Color terms are those of Munsell (1954). Color measurements were standardized by the use of a single 100 watt General Electric blue daylight bulb in a 12 inch white reflector suspended 24 inches above the specimen. All other light was excluded. The individual hairs of Thomomys bottae are either bicolored or tricolored. The darkness of a specimen often may be attributed to the presence of dark-tipped hairs. The color given in the description is the basic reddish or yellowish color of the hairs. The presence of a grizzled effect or a dark dorsal stripe, or any other pattern resulting from dark hairs, is noted in the remarks.

Specimens examined are listed by counties in the following order:

Localities are listed from north to south within a county. If two localities lie on the same line of latitude, the western precedes the eastern. Localities omitted on the map in order to prevent overlapping of symbols are in Italics. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History. The following initials are used to designate specimens in other collections:

CSU—Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

CMNH—Colorado Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado.

ERW—E. R. Warren Collection, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

USNM—United States National Museum, Washington, D. C.

The following measurements of the skull are listed in the tables:

Condylobasal length.—The shortest distance between the anteriormost projections of the premaxillaries and a line touching the posterior surfaces of the exoccipital condyles.

Length of nasals.—The distance from the most anterior projection of the nasal bones to the most posterior projection of a nasal bone.

Zygomatic breadth.—The greatest distance across the zygomatic arches, at right angles to the long axis of the skull.

Squamosal breadth.—The greatest distance between the mastoidal processes of the squamosal.

Length of rostrum.—The shortest distance from the shallow notch that lies lateral to the hamulus of the lacrymal bone, to the tip of the nasal on the same side of the skull.

Breadth of rostrum.—The greatest width of the rostrum, anterior to the maxillae, transverse to the long axis of the skull.

Alveolar length of upper maxillary tooth-row.—Distance between the anterior margin of the alveolus of the first cheek-tooth and the posterior margin of the alveolus of the last upper cheek-tooth, on one side of the skull.

Least interorbital breadth.—The least distance across the frontal bones at the interorbital constriction as seen in dorsal view.