American species of Microtus (genus and subgenus) that have moderately- to well-developed ossified lateral processes are M. townsendii, M. oeconomus, M. pennsylvanicus, M. montanus, and M. chrotorrhinus. Microtus of other subgenera having this type of baculum include M. (Herpetomys) guatemalensis, M. (Chilotus) oregoni, and M. (Chionomys) longicaudus.
American species of Microtus (genus and subgenus) in which the lateral ossifications are weakly developed or absent (although cartilaginous lateral processes are present) include M. mexicanus and M. californicus. In other subgenera, species of Microtus having reduced lateral ossifications are M. (Pedomys) ochrogaster, M. (Pitymys) pinetorum, M. (Pitymys) parvulus, M. (Pitymys) quasiater, M. (Arvicola) richardsoni, and M. (Stenocranius) miurus.
The microtines are essentially holarctic in distribution. Both of the tribes, the lemmings and the voles, as well as primitive representatives of each tribe (not considering Ellobius) occur in both the Old World and New World. It is not certain on which continent (or continents) the Microtinae first differentiated. It is certain, however, that at various times, both early and late in the evolution of the subfamily, representatives have crossed from Eurasia to North America or vice versa. Each of 10 or more microtines in the New World is more closely related to some microtine in the Old World than to any other microtine in the New World.
The similarities or differences in the baculum in Old World and New World representatives placed in the same genus or subgenus, or thought to be "companion species" have been commented upon in accounts of Lemmus, Dicrostonyx, Clethrionomys, Lagurus, Arvicola, Stenocranius, Chilotus, Chionomys, Pitymys, and in accounts of Microtus agrestis as compared with M. pennsylvanicus, and Microtus oeconomus (both Old World and New World).
The baculum in the Microtinae more closely resembles the baculum in the Cricetinae of the Old World than in the Murinae, or than in any other rodents known to me. This resemblance suggests relationship between Microtinae and Cricetinae.
LITERATURE CITED
28-774