Clethrionomys glareolus Schreber
Fig. 13
Baculum: Stalk elongate, greatest length (2.9 mm.) twice the greatest breadth in the specimen examined, flattened proximally, greatest length almost 6 times greatest depth of base; three well-developed ossified processes; median process arched in a dorsoventral plane, with basal notch and lateral lobes; lateral processes as long as median process, bowed in dorsal view, flattened distally, with ventromedial vane; basal tuberosities of stalk weakly developed, medially confluent; posterior profile in dorsal view evenly rounded; in end-view dorsal concavity shallow in comparison to most species but deeper than ventral concavity, constriction ¾ greatest depth; shaft straight, at mid-point slightly wider than high, elongate, widest point of stalk less than ¼ of total length from proximal end, slight lateral inflation at tip; lateral profile in dorsal view sloping at first abruptly and then gradually from widest point of stalk anteriorly onto shaft.
The specimen of Clethrionomys glareolus figured by Ognev (1950:31) in dorsal view as I interpret it, resembles my specimen in the rounded base; in the elongate, distally inflated shaft; in the initially abrupt slope of the lateral profile in dorsal view from the greatest width of stalk anteriorly; and in the presence of three well ossified processes. Ognev's specimen differs from mine in the median process being more elongate relative to its width, and rounded proximally, lacking lateral lobes and basal notch; in lateral processes being less curved; in the greater terminal inflation of the shaft; and in the closer approximation of the terminal processes to the shaft. The baculum of Clethrionomys glareolus as described and figured by Didier (1954:243-244) resembles my specimen in general proportions, but is more pointed proximally and more curved in dorsoventral plane. Didier states that the baculum is rather variable in form in this species, in different regions, but that a large number of specimens must be examined to assess the geographic nature of this variation.
Specimen examined: One from Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland, 67100.