Zapus princeps kootenayensis Anderson
Zapus princeps kootenayensis Anderson, Ann. Rept. Nat. Mus. Canada for 1931:108, November 24, 1932.
Zapus princeps princeps, Preble, N. Amer. Fauna, 15:23, August 8, 1899 (part).
Type.—Adult female, skin and skull, No. 10,020, Nat. Mus. Canada; near summit of Green Mountain, head of Murphy Creek, about 10 miles north of [405] Rossland, West Kootenay district, British Columbia, at about, 6000 ft.; latitude 49° 13′ north, longitude 117° 52′ west; obtained on July 18, 1929, by R. M. Anderson, original No. 24.
Range.—From Glacier in the Selkirk Range, British Columbia, south to 5 mi. W Cocolalla, Bonner County, Idaho, west and north to Sullivan Lake, Pend Oreille County, Washington; and northwestward to Manning Park on the eastern summit of the Cascade Range in British Columbia. See [fig. 46].
Description.—Size, medium; color moderately dark; upper parts noticeably dull and dusty; broad dorsal band of dull Ochraceous-Buff to near Warm Buff sprinkled with black hair to a varying degree, resulting in two color phases (dark has more black hair; Ochraceous phase or Warm Buff phase has more brown hair); sides paler than back owing to fewer black hairs; lateral line, when present, narrow and dull; ventral surface pure white; tail bicolored, pale brown above, yellowish-white to dull white below; ears dark with narrow white or yellowish-white edgings; feet white above; skull narrow across zygomata; incisive foramina narrow; bullae moderately inflated; nasals narrow at tips; postpalatal notch anterior to posterior face of last molars; braincase moderately narrow; zygomatic arch short.
Comparisons.—From Zapus princeps saltator, Z. p. kootenayensis differs as follows: Upper parts generally dull with less ochraceous; sides with more yellow, less ochraceous; lateral line wanting or not bright; skull averaging slightly smaller; incisive foramina smaller and narrower posteriorly; small medium projection on inferior ramus of the zygomatic process of maxillary frequently present instead of absent; pterygoid fossae shorter and narrower.
For comparison with Zapus princeps idahoensis see account of that subspecies.
Remarks.—This subspecies is paler and averages smaller than either of the subspecies with adjoining geographic ranges. There is intergradation with Zapus princeps idahoensis in color, shape and size of incisive foramina, and in the shape of the nasals in Idaho-taken specimens from Glidden Lakes and Enaville. These individuals are thought to be Z. p. idahoensis. Specimens from the same state taken at Cascade Creek and 13 mi. E and 5 mi. N Coeur d’Alene show intergradation in color, size and inflation of bullae, configuration of nasals, and shape of the vomer between Zapus princeps idahoensis and Z. p. kootenayensis. The majority of characters studied show these animals to be referable to Z. p. idahoensis.
Specimens from Monashee Pass, 4000 ft., British Columbia, show relationship to Zapus princeps saltator in the posteriorly wide incisive foramina, in the narrow vomer, and, in some individuals, in the increased amount of ochraceous, dorsally and laterally. The majority of characters studied show these animals to be referable to Z. p. kootenayensis.