Table 1.—Average and Extreme Measurements (in Millimeters) of Skulls of Five Age-groups
of Baiomys taylori from vic. (see [p. 595]) Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Age groupsJuvenileYoungSubadultAdultOld adult
Number examined3314198
Total length77.0
(74-79)
92.6
(89-96)
97.6
(91-103)
99.9
(93-105)
101.6
(98-107)
Length of tail27.3
(24-29)
39.3
(37-41)
40.4
(36-43)
39.8
(35-45)
40.9
(38-45)
Length of body49.6
(49-50)
53.3
(52-55)
57.0
(51-61)
60.0
(56-67)
60.7
(57-67)
Length of hind foot11.0
(11)
13.6
(13-14)
14.3
(13.5-15.0)
14.5
(14-15)
14.2
(13-15)
Occipitonasal length14.2
(13.6-15.2)
16.3
(15.8-16.9)
17.1
(16.7-17.6)
17.7
(17.2-18.3)
17.8
(17.6-18.1)
Zygomatic breadth8.1
(7.8- 8.6)
8.7
(8.6-8.8)
8.9
(8.6-9.3)
9.3
(9.0-9.6)
9.4
(9.1-9.6)
Interorbital breadth3.4
(3.3- 3.5)
3.4
(3.3-3.6)
3.4
(3.3-3.6)
3.6
(3.4-3.8)
3.5
(3.3-3.6)
Incisive foramina (length)2.9
(2.8- 2.9)
3.5
(3.4-3.6)
3.7
(3.6-3.9)
3.9
(3.6-4.1)
3.9
(3.5-4.0)
Depth of cranium5.9
(5.6- 6.2)
6.5
(6.3-6.8)
6.5
(6.2-6.8)
6.7
(6.4-7.0)
6.8
(6.5-7.1)
Alveolar length, upper molars2.7
(2.5- 2.8)
2.9
(2.9-3.0)
2.9
(2.8-3.1)
3.0
(2.9-3.2)
3.0
(3.0-3.1)
Postpalatal length4.8
(4.5- 5.3)
5.9
(5.8-6.0)
6.2
(5.8-6.6)
6.5
(6.2-7.2)
6.5
(6.3-6.7)
Breadth of braincase8.1
(7.8- 8.7)
8.5
(8.5)
8.4
(8.0-8.7)
8.6
(8.3-8.9)
8.6
(8.4-8.8)

SECONDARY SEXUAL VARIATION

The method employed by Dice and Leraas (1936:2) was used to measure the secondary sexual differences, if there were any, in each of several age classes. As pointed out by Hooper (1952b:11), individual variation in small samples can obscure secondary sexual differences. The samples of B. taylori from the vicinity (see page 595) of Altamira, Tamaulipas, and the samples of B. musculus from El Salvador ([table 2]) were large enough to prevent individual variation from obscuring sexual differences. Nevertheless, no significant secondary sexual differences were found in either B. taylori or B. musculus (see [table 2]). Therefore, the sexes have been considered together for purposes of geographic studies.

Table 2.—Analysis of Secondary Sexual Variation in Adult B. taylori Vicinity of (see [p. 595])
Altamira, Tamaulipas, and Adult B. musculus from El Salvador (see [p. 595]).
(One Standard Deviation on Either Side of the Mean is Given.)

CharacterBaiomys tayloriBaiomys musculus
21 Males18 Females17 Males13 Females
Total length98.4 ± 2.95100.5 ± 4.72112.04 ± 5.49113.12 ± 4.23
Length of tail40.1 ± 2.3140.3 ± 2.3947.12 ± 2.9545.70 ± 2.92
Length of body57.83 ± 1.6560.10 ± 4.1366.67 ± 3.9767.75 ± 2.38
Length of
hind foot
14.21 ± .5314.44 ± .5115.60 ± .4915.38 ± .64
Length of ear10.00 ± .0010.00 ± .0011.80 ± .6512.00 ± .41
Occipitonasal
length
17.48 ± .4017.47 ± .4719.32 ± .3519.04 ± .44
Zygomatic
breadth
9.17 ± .339.15 ± .309.84 ± .219.91 ± .28
Least
interorbital
breadth
3.53 ± .113.48 ± .113.88 ± .083.88 ± .12
Postpalatal
length
6.35 ± .196.38 ± .307.11 ± .156.95 ± .20
Depth
of cranium
6.65 ± .246.61 ± .177.10 ± .187.08 ± .18
Incisive
foramina
(length)
3.82 ± .153.81 ± .184.43 ± .114.35 ± .14
Length
of rostrum
5.87 ± .205.88 ± .216.81 ± .166.66 ± .31
Breadth
of braincase
8.54 ± .238.52 ± .129.84 ± .389.52 ± .20
Alveolar
length,
upper molars
2.98 ± .083.01 ± .083.20 ± .093.24 ± .10

INDIVIDUAL VARIATION

Length of tail varied more than any other measurement used by me in taxonomic comparisons. Clark (1941:298), Hoffmeister (1951:16), and Van Gelder (1959:239) point out that external measurements generally are more variable than measurements of the cranium, probably because different techniques of measuring are employed by different collectors. As can be noted in [table 3], females varied more than males.