The white bands in front of the ears are confluent with the white patch between the eyes on one side only in one specimen. It is the juvenal male. These bands are not confluent with the color of the underparts on either side in the female and on one side only in the adult male. None of the specimens has a white patch between the ears. The dark spot at each angle of the mouth is present only in the juvenile where it occurs on each side. Of the three specimens, the juvenile is the darkest and the adult male the lightest. The white facial markings are most extensive in the juvenal male and the least extensive in the adult female.
M. f. macrophoniusmost closely resemblesM. f. goldmanibut in the relatively flattened braincase, deep constriction of the postorbital region and general angularity of the skull approachesM. f. perotaeandM. f. frenata.
Only one of the three skulls, that of the female, shows evidence of infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites, and this did not result in malformation of the interorbital region.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 3, all from México, listed by localities from north to south.Veracruz.Achotal, 1 (Field Mus. Nat. Hist.); Pérez, 2 (U. S. Nat. Mus.).
Specimens examined.—Total number, 3, all from México, listed by localities from north to south.
Veracruz.Achotal, 1 (Field Mus. Nat. Hist.); Pérez, 2 (U. S. Nat. Mus.).
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates25,26,27,30,37,38and39
Putorius tropicalisMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:30, pl. 3, figs. 5, 5a, 6, 6a, text fig. 16, June 30, 1896; Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:68, March 22, 1902.Putorius frenatus, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:27, June 30, 1896.Mustela tropicalis tropicalis, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, December 31, 1912; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:99, April 28, 1916.Mustela frenata tropicalis, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Putorius tropicalisMerriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:30, pl. 3, figs. 5, 5a, 6, 6a, text fig. 16, June 30, 1896; Merriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:68, March 22, 1902.
Putorius frenatus, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:27, June 30, 1896.
Mustela tropicalis tropicalis, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, December 31, 1912; Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:99, April 28, 1916.
Mustela frenata tropicalis, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Type.—Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 54994, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Jico, Veracruz, México; July 9, 1893; obtained by E. W. Nelson; original no. 5195.The skull (plates25-27,30) is complete. All the upper incisors, except the second and third on the left side, are missing. The right upper canine is broken. The skin is well made and in good condition.Range.—Up to 5000 feet (as now known) in Tropical Life-zone of Veracruz, México. See figure29on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. frenataandM. f. perotaein least width of color of underparts not exceeding 36 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts and in postorbital breadth exceeding length of upper molar and premolar tooth-rows; fromM. f. macrophoniusandM. f. perdain least width of color of underparts averaging more than 29 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; and fromM. f. perdaby longer tympanic bullae which in males are more than 14.9; and fromM. f. macrophoniusby lesser basilar length (not more than 48) and in postorbital breadth exceeding length of upper molar and premolar tooth-row.Description.—Size.—Male: The type specimen and no. 12764/11058, a subadult, from Jalapa, Veracruz, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 444, 442; length of tail, 175, 160; length of hind foot, 50, 47. The tail is 65 and 57 per cent as long as the head and body. The hind foot is more or less than (approximately equal to) the basilar length.Female: Merriam (1896:31) gives the measurements of a female topotype (probably no. 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus., which has no measurements written on the attached label) as: Total length, 333; length of tail, 121; length of hind foot, 37. The length of the tail amounts to 57 per cent of the length of the body. The length of the hind foot of no. 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus. is the same as the basal length.The differences in external measurements between the male and the female topotypes are: Total length, 111; length of tail, 54; length of hind foot, 13.Externals.—As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that carpal vibrissae do not reach apical pad of fifth digit and hairiness of foot soles is less.Color.—As described inM. f. frenataexcept that: Blackish of head extends half way or more from ears to shoulders; upper parts near (14) Brussels Brown or slightly faded tone 2 of Maroon of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 341; underparts of juvenal pelage near (a) Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of color of underparts averaging (in three specimens from Jico and one from Jalapa) 34 (extremes 30-37) per cent of greatest width of color of underparts. Black tip of tail, in two male topotypes, 57.5 (55 and 60) mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and in each individual comprising 34 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.As compared withM. f. frenata: White facial markings slightly less extensive; blackish (not black) of head extending onto neck; upper parts slightly darker; ventral side of tail noticeably darker; color of underparts more restricted, averaging approximately one-third rather than nearly one-half width color of upper parts; black tip of tail one-third rather than one-fourth length of tail and much longer than hind foot. Similar differences of lesser amount exist betweenperotaeandtropicalis.M. f. perda,macrophoniusandgoldmanibear the opposite relation totropicalis. That is to say, in the latter: White facial markings slightly more extensive; blackish of head less extended over neck; upper parts markedly lighter; color of underparts less restricted and black tip of tail shorter.Skull and teeth.—Male (based on type specimen and a subadult, no. 11058, from Jalapa): See measurements and plates25-27,30. As described inMustela frenata perdaexcept that: Weight 4.7 (4.6 and 4.7) grams; basilar length 46.7 (45.5 and 47.8); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 (including I3) upper incisors; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below middle of m2 or posterior to that tooth.Female (based on no. 54993 and no. 1060): See measurements and plates37-39. As described inMustela frenata perdaexcept that: Weight (of 54993) 2.2 grams; basilar length, 37.5 (36.0-39.0); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more than greatest length of P4; height of tympanic bulla equal to one-third to three-fourths of distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale.The skull of the adult female is 53 per cent lighter than that of the type specimen, a male.
Type.—Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 54994, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Jico, Veracruz, México; July 9, 1893; obtained by E. W. Nelson; original no. 5195.
The skull (plates25-27,30) is complete. All the upper incisors, except the second and third on the left side, are missing. The right upper canine is broken. The skin is well made and in good condition.
Range.—Up to 5000 feet (as now known) in Tropical Life-zone of Veracruz, México. See figure29on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. frenataandM. f. perotaein least width of color of underparts not exceeding 36 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts and in postorbital breadth exceeding length of upper molar and premolar tooth-rows; fromM. f. macrophoniusandM. f. perdain least width of color of underparts averaging more than 29 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; and fromM. f. perdaby longer tympanic bullae which in males are more than 14.9; and fromM. f. macrophoniusby lesser basilar length (not more than 48) and in postorbital breadth exceeding length of upper molar and premolar tooth-row.
Description.—Size.—Male: The type specimen and no. 12764/11058, a subadult, from Jalapa, Veracruz, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 444, 442; length of tail, 175, 160; length of hind foot, 50, 47. The tail is 65 and 57 per cent as long as the head and body. The hind foot is more or less than (approximately equal to) the basilar length.
Female: Merriam (1896:31) gives the measurements of a female topotype (probably no. 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus., which has no measurements written on the attached label) as: Total length, 333; length of tail, 121; length of hind foot, 37. The length of the tail amounts to 57 per cent of the length of the body. The length of the hind foot of no. 54993, U. S. Nat. Mus. is the same as the basal length.
The differences in external measurements between the male and the female topotypes are: Total length, 111; length of tail, 54; length of hind foot, 13.
Externals.—As described inMustela frenata frenataexcept that carpal vibrissae do not reach apical pad of fifth digit and hairiness of foot soles is less.
Color.—As described inM. f. frenataexcept that: Blackish of head extends half way or more from ears to shoulders; upper parts near (14) Brussels Brown or slightly faded tone 2 of Maroon of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 341; underparts of juvenal pelage near (a) Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of color of underparts averaging (in three specimens from Jico and one from Jalapa) 34 (extremes 30-37) per cent of greatest width of color of underparts. Black tip of tail, in two male topotypes, 57.5 (55 and 60) mm. long; thus longer than hind foot and in each individual comprising 34 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
As compared withM. f. frenata: White facial markings slightly less extensive; blackish (not black) of head extending onto neck; upper parts slightly darker; ventral side of tail noticeably darker; color of underparts more restricted, averaging approximately one-third rather than nearly one-half width color of upper parts; black tip of tail one-third rather than one-fourth length of tail and much longer than hind foot. Similar differences of lesser amount exist betweenperotaeandtropicalis.M. f. perda,macrophoniusandgoldmanibear the opposite relation totropicalis. That is to say, in the latter: White facial markings slightly more extensive; blackish of head less extended over neck; upper parts markedly lighter; color of underparts less restricted and black tip of tail shorter.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on type specimen and a subadult, no. 11058, from Jalapa): See measurements and plates25-27,30. As described inMustela frenata perdaexcept that: Weight 4.7 (4.6 and 4.7) grams; basilar length 46.7 (45.5 and 47.8); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4 (including I3) upper incisors; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below middle of m2 or posterior to that tooth.
Female (based on no. 54993 and no. 1060): See measurements and plates37-39. As described inMustela frenata perdaexcept that: Weight (of 54993) 2.2 grams; basilar length, 37.5 (36.0-39.0); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; least width of palate more than greatest length of P4; height of tympanic bulla equal to one-third to three-fourths of distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale.
The skull of the adult female is 53 per cent lighter than that of the type specimen, a male.
Comparison of the skulls of males and females with those ofM. f. perda, the nearest relative, has been made in the discussion of that subspecies. Some of the features that readily distinguish skulls ofM. f. tropicalisfrom those ofM. f. frenata,perotaeandmacrophoniusare as follows: Weight less than 4.8 grams; basilar length less than 48; postorbital breadth more than length of upper M-Pm tooth-row. The skulls of malefrenata,perotaeandmacrophoniusare much larger, heavier, and are decidedly more angular with more constricted postorbital region the least width of which is less than the length of the upper premolars. Infrenatathe anterior margins of the tympanic bullae are protruded much farther from the braincase. The skull of the female ofM. f. tropicalisis smaller, weighing less than 3 grams; basilar length less than 41; postorbital breadth more than length of upper molar and premolar tooth-row.
Remarks.—This subspecies was originally described by Merriam as a full species. Later he describedPutorius tropicalis perdusas another subspecies. Allen (1916) placedP. t. perdusin synonymy but namedMustela tropicalis nicaraguaeas new. In the present paper all three forms are recognized but are regarded as only subspecifically distinct from the other bridled weasels of México and Central America.
The limits of the geographic range oftropicalisare fairly well known on the south and west but the only specimen available from the tropical coastal region north of Jico, is a young female from a point 50 miles south of Victoria. Thus, how far north along the coast it ranges toward Matamoros, whereM. f. frenataoccurs, is not known. The three specimens from Jico, a young female from Jalapa and another adult collected by J. Potts and labeled as coming from México City, are assumed to be typical. The latter specimen certainly came from an elevation lower than that of México City becauseM. f. frenataoccurs there. Although the female from Jalapa, agrees well with specimens from Jico, a male, no. 12764/11058, from Jalapa, has a relatively broader skull, as inperda, although the tympanic bullae are short as intropicalis. The resemblances toperdain features of coloration are: slightly darker upper parts, and the termination just below the knees of the color of the underparts. There are three specimens labeled as from Orizaba that indicate intergradation withperotaeas does also the coloration of the juvenal female from 5 kilometers north of Jalapa. The specimens labeled as from Orizaba are old, poorly-prepared skins, only two of which have partial skulls. The size and coloration of the skins suggestperotaeas do also the partial skulls in some respects although the skulls show greater resemblance to those oftropicalis.
The topotype, female, no. 54993, was figured by Merriam (1896, fig. 16, p. 31) along with that of what now is the type specimen ofM. f. perotae. Merriam called attention to the great difference in size between the skulls of the two sexes ofM. f. tropicalisand compared the condition to that found innoveboracensis. Although the skull of the female from Jico is fully adult, it probably is exceptionally small.
The young female from Xuchil is indistinguishable in coloration from the juvenal female ofM. f. perotaefrom Perote, but in size of skull and size of teeth is intermediate between the female of tropicalis from Jalapa and the females from Cofre de Perote.
There is then, indication of intergradation withM. f. perotaeas well as withM. f. perda.M. f. tropicalisdiffers fromM. f. perotaeandM. f. frenatain about the same way thatM. f. perdadiffers fromM. f. goldmaniandM. f. macrophonius.M. f. tropicalisandperdaeach is smaller and more intensely colored thangoldmaniandmacrophonius, and inhabits the lowland to the east of their highland relative.
At least five of the nine skulls have the frontal sinuses infested by parasites.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 13, all from México, listed by localities from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States National Museum.Tamaulipas.50 mi. S Victoria, 1[71]. Near? México City, 1.Veracruz.Jico, 3; 5 km. N Jalapa, 1[90]; Jalapa, 2 (1[2], 1[75]); Xuchil, 1[60]; Orizaba, 4 (2[75], 1[4]).
Specimens examined.—Total number, 13, all from México, listed by localities from north to south. Unless otherwise indicated specimens are in the collection of the United States National Museum.
Tamaulipas.50 mi. S Victoria, 1[71]. Near? México City, 1.
Veracruz.Jico, 3; 5 km. N Jalapa, 1[90]; Jalapa, 2 (1[2], 1[75]); Xuchil, 1[60]; Orizaba, 4 (2[75], 1[4]).
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates25,26,27,30,37,38and39
Putorius tropicalis perdusMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:67, March 22, 1902.Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).Mustela tropicalis perda, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, December 31, 1912.Mustela tropicalis tropicalis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:99, April 28, 1916.Mustela frenata perda, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Putorius tropicalis perdusMerriam, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 15:67, March 22, 1902.
Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).
Mustela tropicalis perda, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull., 79:100, December 31, 1912.
Mustela tropicalis tropicalis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:99, April 28, 1916.
Mustela frenata perda, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Type.—Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 100041, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Teapa, Tabasco, México; March 31, 1900; obtained by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman; original no., 14074.The skull (plates25-27,30) is unbroken and all the teeth are present and entire. The skin is well made and in good condition.Range.—Fifty feet (Chichén Itzá) to 4000 feet (San Vicente) in Lower Tropical Life-zone south from southern Veracruz through southern México into Guatemala. See figure29on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. nicaraguaein lesser extent of color of underparts (not more than 22 per cent of greatest extent of color of upper parts), black tip of tail more than 38 per cent of length of tail, and broader skull (in adult males, mastoid breadth more than 23.9 and zygomatic breadth more than 27.4); fromM. f. tropicalisin more restricted color of underparts (least width of color of underparts less than 28 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts) and shorter tympanic bullae, which in males are less than 15; fromM. f. goldmaniby total length not exceeding 489, least width of color of underparts not exceeding 24 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, weight of adult skull less than 5 grams and basilar length less than 48.5.Description.—Size.—Male: The type specimen and another subadult from San Vicente, Chiapas, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 473 and 443; length of tail, 184 and 169; length of hind foot, 51 and 51.5. The tail is 62 and 64 per cent as long as the head and body. The length of the hind foot is greater than the basal length.Female: Estimates made from the dried skin of no. 218036 are: Total length, 375; length of tail, 140; length of hind foot, 40. The hind foot of no. 65422 from Catemaco also measures 40.The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 83; length of tail, 37; length of hind foot, 11.Externals.—As described inMustela frenata goldmaniexcept that hairiness of foot soles is slightly less.Color.—As described inMustela frenata goldmaniexcept that: back near (n) Argus Brown or Carbon Brown, tone 3, of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 342; underparts Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of color of underparts, in four specimens, averaging 20 (extremes 18-22) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail, in two subadult males, averaging 48 (extremes 46-49) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.Skull and teeth.—Male (based on type specimen and subadult no. 132997 from San Vicente): See measurements and plates25-27,30; weight 4.4 grams (same for each); basilar length 45.7 (45.3 and 46.1); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more or less than (approximately equal to) length of upper premolars and greater than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum not greater than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below middle of m2.Female (based on two subadults, nos. 65422 and 218036): See measurements and plates36-39; weight, 2.4 (2.3-2.5) grams; basilar length, 40.5 (40.4-40.6); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars or than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more than outside length of P4 and less than inside length of same; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 5 or 6 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla equal to one-third to one-half distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and more or less than (about equal to) length of rostrum.The skull of the female averages 48 per cent lighter than that of the male.
Type.—Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 100041, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Teapa, Tabasco, México; March 31, 1900; obtained by E. W. Nelson and E. A. Goldman; original no., 14074.
The skull (plates25-27,30) is unbroken and all the teeth are present and entire. The skin is well made and in good condition.
Range.—Fifty feet (Chichén Itzá) to 4000 feet (San Vicente) in Lower Tropical Life-zone south from southern Veracruz through southern México into Guatemala. See figure29on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. nicaraguaein lesser extent of color of underparts (not more than 22 per cent of greatest extent of color of upper parts), black tip of tail more than 38 per cent of length of tail, and broader skull (in adult males, mastoid breadth more than 23.9 and zygomatic breadth more than 27.4); fromM. f. tropicalisin more restricted color of underparts (least width of color of underparts less than 28 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts) and shorter tympanic bullae, which in males are less than 15; fromM. f. goldmaniby total length not exceeding 489, least width of color of underparts not exceeding 24 per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts, weight of adult skull less than 5 grams and basilar length less than 48.5.
Description.—Size.—Male: The type specimen and another subadult from San Vicente, Chiapas, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 473 and 443; length of tail, 184 and 169; length of hind foot, 51 and 51.5. The tail is 62 and 64 per cent as long as the head and body. The length of the hind foot is greater than the basal length.
Female: Estimates made from the dried skin of no. 218036 are: Total length, 375; length of tail, 140; length of hind foot, 40. The hind foot of no. 65422 from Catemaco also measures 40.
The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 83; length of tail, 37; length of hind foot, 11.
Externals.—As described inMustela frenata goldmaniexcept that hairiness of foot soles is slightly less.
Color.—As described inMustela frenata goldmaniexcept that: back near (n) Argus Brown or Carbon Brown, tone 3, of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 342; underparts Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of color of underparts, in four specimens, averaging 20 (extremes 18-22) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail, in two subadult males, averaging 48 (extremes 46-49) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on type specimen and subadult no. 132997 from San Vicente): See measurements and plates25-27,30; weight 4.4 grams (same for each); basilar length 45.7 (45.3 and 46.1); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more or less than (approximately equal to) length of upper premolars and greater than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum not greater than length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below middle of m2.
Female (based on two subadults, nos. 65422 and 218036): See measurements and plates36-39; weight, 2.4 (2.3-2.5) grams; basilar length, 40.5 (40.4-40.6); zygomatic breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars or than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more than outside length of P4 and less than inside length of same; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 5 or 6 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla equal to one-third to one-half distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row and more or less than (about equal to) length of rostrum.
The skull of the female averages 48 per cent lighter than that of the male.
Comparison of the skull of the male with that ofM. f. nicaraguaehas been made in the account of that subspecies. The skull of the male as compared with that ofM. f. tropicalishas shorter tympanic bullae, deeper braincase at anterior margin of basioccipital, lesser zygomatic and palatal breadth and smaller P4 and m1. The skull of the female is larger in every measurement taken except those reflecting width of the preorbital portion. This part is actually narrower but probably mainly because the females ofperdaare younger than those oftropicalis. Features in which three skulls of subadults ofM. f. perdadiffer from the five adults ofM. f. goldmaniand show no overlap are: lesser basilar length, lesser weight, greater relative length of upper tooth-rows, greater relative width of rostrum, greater relative length of rostrum, lesser mastoid and zygomatic breadths, lesser width, length and height of tympanic bullae; lesser outside length of P4 and greater relative depth of braincase at anterior margin of basioccipital and at posterior margin of M1. Features in whichperdaaverages less are: length of tooth-rows, interorbital breadth, orbitonasal length, relative zygomatic breadth, length of m1, outside and inside lengths of P4, width and length of M1, and depth of skull at posterior margin of M1. Features in whichperdaaverages more thangoldmaniare: relative interorbital breadth, relative mastoid breadth and depth of skull at anterior margin of basioccipital. The length of the inner half of M1 averages the same. As compared withgoldmani, the skull of the male ofperdais shorter, otherwise generally smaller, but relatively broader except across the zygomatic arches, and relatively deeper. The anterior margins of the tympanic bullae project slightly less from the braincase and the squamosals immediately in front of these bullae are slightly more convex ventrally.
Remarks.—Described by Merriam in 1902 as a subspecies ofPutorius tropicalis, the formperdawas regarded by Allen (1916:99) as not subspecifically distinct fromP. t. tropicalis.
This is the eastern, lowland subspecies of the Tropical Life-zone, corresponding toM. f. goldmaniof the higher mountains just asM. f. tropicaliscorresponds toM. f. frenataandperotaeof the high mountains and table land. The difference in size betweenperdaandnicaraguaeand betweenperdaandtropicalisis slight.M. f. perdais slightly less richly colored thanM. f. nicaraguaebut has the color of the underparts more restricted and has a longer black tip on the tail. In these respects it is second only toM. f. panamensisamong Central American weasels. Evidence of intergradation withgoldmaniis furnished by the specimens from Cobán, Guatemala, and the nearby locality San Cristóbal in Verapaz, Guatemala. Reduced size as compared withgoldmanisuggests affinity withperdabut the greater width of the light-colored underparts, which averages 24 (extremes 18-32) per cent of the greatest width of the color of the upper parts, shows approach togoldmani. Farther north, in Chiapas, however, specimens ofperdafrom San Cristóbal and San Vicente are readily distinguishable from those ofgoldmanitaken a few miles away at Pinabete and near Teopisca. The latter two localities are, however, several thousand feet higher than San Cristóbal (Chiapas) and San Vicente.
Two of the nine skulls (only 3 adult) examined for malformation of the frontal sinuses reveal infestation by parasites.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 18, listed by localities from north to south, and unless otherwise indicated in the United States National Museum.Veracruz.Catemaco, 1.Tabasco.Teapa, 2 (1[7]).Chiapas.San Cristóbal, 1; San Vicente, 1; no locality more definite than state, 1.Yucatán.Chichén-Itzá, 1[76].Guatemala: Cobán, 2 (1[7], 1[4]); Finca la Providenci, S. Cristóbal, Verapaz, 3[76]; central Guatemala, 1; no locality more definite than Guatemala, 5 (2[7]).
Specimens examined.—Total number, 18, listed by localities from north to south, and unless otherwise indicated in the United States National Museum.
Veracruz.Catemaco, 1.
Tabasco.Teapa, 2 (1[7]).
Chiapas.San Cristóbal, 1; San Vicente, 1; no locality more definite than state, 1.
Yucatán.Chichén-Itzá, 1[76].
Guatemala: Cobán, 2 (1[7], 1[4]); Finca la Providenci, S. Cristóbal, Verapaz, 3[76]; central Guatemala, 1; no locality more definite than Guatemala, 5 (2[7]).
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates 1, 25, 26, 27 and 30
Mustela tropicalis nicaraguaeAllen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:100, April 28, 1916.Putorius tropicalis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:661, 1908.Mustela frenata nicaraguae, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Mustela tropicalis nicaraguaeAllen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:100, April 28, 1916.
Putorius tropicalis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 24:661, 1908.
Mustela frenata nicaraguae, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Type.—Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 30754, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Matagalpa, Nicaragua; April 16, 1910; obtained by W. B. Richardson; original no., 712.The skull (plates25-27,30) of the type specimen lacks the entire right zygomatic arch. Otherwise it is complete. The teeth all are present and unbroken. The skin is complete and unfaded but only partly stuffed.Range.—Honduras and Nicaragua. Altitudinal and zonal limits unknown. See figure29on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. costaricensisandM. f. goldmaniin shorter black tip of tail (not more than 35 per cent of length of tail) and lesser width (usually not more than 7 mm.) of tympanic bulla; fromM. f. perdain greater extent of color of underparts (22 or more per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts), shorter black tip on tail (not more than 35 per cent as long as tail) and narrower skull, the mastoid breadth in adult males being less than 23.9 and the zygomatic breadth less than 27.Description.—Size.—Male: Average and extreme measurements of five subadults and one young (four from Matagalpa and one from San Rafel del Norte) are: Total length, 450 (420-480); length of tail, 178 (150-190); length of hind foot, 48 (46-50). Tail averages 65 (extremes 56-69) per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot (measurements from dried skins) more than basal length.Female: Measurements unrecorded.Externals.—As described inMustela frenata goldmani, except that hairiness of foot soles (between that shown in figures20and21) is less, slightly less even than inM. f. perda.Color.—As described inMustela frenata goldmaniexcept that: Back near (n) Argus Brown, or Carbon Brown, tone 4 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 342. Underparts Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of color of underparts, in four males, young, subadult and adult, 24 (extremes 22-26) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; the corresponding per cent in one female is 32; black tip of tail, in two subadult males, averaging 29 (extremes, 28-30) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae; corresponding per cent in one female, 36.Skull and teeth.—Male (based on type specimen, one adult topotype [?] and one subadult from San Rafel del Norte): See measurements and plates25-27,30. As described inMustela frenata perdaexcept that: Weight, 4.2 grams (estimated for adults); basilar length 45.0 (44.8-45.5); interorbital breadth more or less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of four to five upper incisors; length of tympanic bulla not less than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below anterior margin of m2 or posterior to that tooth.Female: Skull unknown.
Type.—Male, subadult, skull and skin; no. 30754, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Matagalpa, Nicaragua; April 16, 1910; obtained by W. B. Richardson; original no., 712.
The skull (plates25-27,30) of the type specimen lacks the entire right zygomatic arch. Otherwise it is complete. The teeth all are present and unbroken. The skin is complete and unfaded but only partly stuffed.
Range.—Honduras and Nicaragua. Altitudinal and zonal limits unknown. See figure29on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. costaricensisandM. f. goldmaniin shorter black tip of tail (not more than 35 per cent of length of tail) and lesser width (usually not more than 7 mm.) of tympanic bulla; fromM. f. perdain greater extent of color of underparts (22 or more per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts), shorter black tip on tail (not more than 35 per cent as long as tail) and narrower skull, the mastoid breadth in adult males being less than 23.9 and the zygomatic breadth less than 27.
Description.—Size.—Male: Average and extreme measurements of five subadults and one young (four from Matagalpa and one from San Rafel del Norte) are: Total length, 450 (420-480); length of tail, 178 (150-190); length of hind foot, 48 (46-50). Tail averages 65 (extremes 56-69) per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot (measurements from dried skins) more than basal length.
Female: Measurements unrecorded.
Externals.—As described inMustela frenata goldmani, except that hairiness of foot soles (between that shown in figures20and21) is less, slightly less even than inM. f. perda.
Color.—As described inMustela frenata goldmaniexcept that: Back near (n) Argus Brown, or Carbon Brown, tone 4 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 342. Underparts Ochraceous-Buff. Least width of color of underparts, in four males, young, subadult and adult, 24 (extremes 22-26) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; the corresponding per cent in one female is 32; black tip of tail, in two subadult males, averaging 29 (extremes, 28-30) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae; corresponding per cent in one female, 36.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on type specimen, one adult topotype [?] and one subadult from San Rafel del Norte): See measurements and plates25-27,30. As described inMustela frenata perdaexcept that: Weight, 4.2 grams (estimated for adults); basilar length 45.0 (44.8-45.5); interorbital breadth more or less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of four to five upper incisors; length of tympanic bulla not less than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row; anterior margin of masseteric fossa below anterior margin of m2 or posterior to that tooth.
Female: Skull unknown.
Comparison of the skull of the male with that ofM. f. costaricensisis made in the account of that subspecies. As compared with that ofM. f. perda, which it most closely resembles, the skull of the male has a narrower, shorter rostrum, lesser interorbital breadth, lesser mastoid and zygomatic breadths and slightly shallower braincase, measured at anterior margin of basioccipital. The tympanic bullae are slightly less projected, at their anterior margins, from the braincase and the squamosal, directly anterior to each, is a little more convex ventrally. The skull ofM. f. nicaraguaeis, then, slightly shorter than that ofM. f. perdaand relatively narrower.
Remarks.—When naming this form, Allen (1916:100) characterized it as "Similar toM. tropicalis tropicalisbut general coloration much darker and the white face markings somewhat reduced in area." In the sentence preceding the one quoted,Putorius tropicalis perduswas placed as a synonym ofPutorius tropicalis tropicalis.M. f. nicaraguaeandM. f. perdaare nearly alike in color and color pattern but differ in cranial characters.M. f. perdaandM. f. tropicalisare widely different in color and more especially in color pattern but differ only slightly in cranial characters. The aggregate difference betweenperdaandnicaraguaeis less than that betweenperdaandtropicalis. All three are lowland forms and each is smaller than the adjacent highland forms, namely,M. f. goldmani,macrophonius,perotaeandfrenata.
The weasels from Honduras definitely are not typical ofnicaraguaeas it is known from the specimens from Nicaragua itself. The specimens from the state of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, are larger. Some are darker than topotypicalnicaraguae. The dorsal outline of the skull is more nearly flat (less convex) in some. In these and several other differential features studied, the average of specimens from Tegucigalpa is intermediate towardgoldmani, but everything considered the animals seem best placed withnicaraguaerather than withgoldmaniorperda, to which latter also, they show some resemblance. With better material from Nicaragua and additional specimens from Salvador (here referred togoldmani) a restudy of all the material now referred to the three races named would be profitable. Aims of this restudy might be to determine if a highland race additional togoldmanishould be recognized and if the lowland racesperdaandnicaraguaediffer from one another in the way that the existing specimens indicate.
In the five males from Matagalpa, the narrow white band in front of each ear is confluent with the color of the underparts on one side only in one specimen and on both sides in two specimens. None of these bands is confluent with the white patch between the eyes. A dark spot at the angle of the mouth is present on one side in one specimen. The corresponding area is dark colored in all other specimens but not separated from the color of the upper parts. In the specimen from San Rafel del Norte the white bands are not confluent with the color of the underparts. The female from Mambacho has the mentioned bands confluent with the color of the underparts. This female approachesM. f. costaricensisin the dark color of the upper parts but has more extensive white facial markings than some specimens from much farther north. Like a female seen ofM. f. costaricensis, this one has a "frosted" nape but the white hairs on the back of the neck are less numerous than in the female ofM. f. costaricensis.
M. f. nicaraguaein typical form, then, is thought of as a small, lowland, tropical subspecies only slightly differentiated fromM. f. perda. By reason of its intermediate characters, it constitutes a link between the lowland forms, and the larger animals calledM. f. goldmaniandM. f. costaricensis.
None of the four skulls from Nicaragua shows signs of infestation of the frontal sinuses by parasites.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 16, listed by localities from north to south. Specimens are in the American Museum of Natural History, unless otherwise indicated.Honduras: Alto Cantoral, 2; Cerro Grande La Paz, 1. La Flor Archaga, 1[75]; Comayagüela, 1[75]; vicinity of Tegucigalpa, 2; no locality more definite than Honduras, 1[4].Nicaragua: San Rafel del Norte, 1; Matagalpa, 6; Ma[o]mbacho, 1.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 16, listed by localities from north to south. Specimens are in the American Museum of Natural History, unless otherwise indicated.
Honduras: Alto Cantoral, 2; Cerro Grande La Paz, 1. La Flor Archaga, 1[75]; Comayagüela, 1[75]; vicinity of Tegucigalpa, 2; no locality more definite than Honduras, 1[4].
Nicaragua: San Rafel del Norte, 1; Matagalpa, 6; Ma[o]mbacho, 1.
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates25,26,27,28,29and30
Mustela costaricensisGoldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,25:9, January 23, 1912.Mustela brasiliensis, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 14(ser. 4):374, 1874.Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).Putorius affinis, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:31, June 30, 1896 (part).Mustela affinis costaricensis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916; Lönnberg, Arkiv för Zool., 14(no. 4):16, 1921.Mustela frenata costaricensis, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Mustela costaricensisGoldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington,25:9, January 23, 1912.
Mustela brasiliensis, Gray, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 14(ser. 4):374, 1874.
Putorius (Gale) brasiliensis frenatus, Coues, Fur-bearing animals, p. 142, 1877 (part).
Putorius affinis, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:31, June 30, 1896 (part).
Mustela affinis costaricensis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916; Lönnberg, Arkiv för Zool., 14(no. 4):16, 1921.
Mustela frenata costaricensis, Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Type.—Male, young, skull and skin; no. 13770/37149, U. S. Nat. Mus.; San José, Costa Rica; obtained by C. H. Van Patten.The skull (plates28-30) is complete and unbroken. All teeth are present and unworn. The skin apparently has been remade. It lacks the distal two-thirds of the tail. The head is somewhat shrunken. The color is possibly faded but if so only to a slight degree. Otherwise, the skin is in good condition. The orange color of the underparts is so intense as to suggest that the full, adult pelage has not been acquired. No white markings are present on the face. There is no sex mark on the label attached to the skin but the size and proportions of the skull and the scrotal pouch on the skin prove that the specimen is a male. The presence of sutures on the dorsal face of the rostrum and the short, wide, and low sagittal crest show the specimen to be young.Range.—Costa Rica. Altitudinal and zonal range unknown. See figure29on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. panamensisin lighter color of upper parts (tone 2 rather than tone 4 of Reddish Black of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344) and longitudinally flat interorbital region of skull; fromM. f. nicaraguaein darker color of upper parts (of Oberthür and Dauthenay, tone 2 of pl. 344 rather than tone 4 of pl. 342) and greater width (more than 7) of tympanic bulla.Description.—Size.—Male: No collector's measurements available of fully grown animals. Estimated measurements of adult males: Total length, 470; length of tail, 165; length of hind foot (taken from dried skins of 3 adults), 52 (50-52). Tail estimated to average 55 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more or less than (about equal to) basal length.Female: A subadult or adult, from the Candelaria Mountains, and a subadult from Irazú, measure, respectively: Total length, 370, 385; length of tail, 130, 150; length of hind foot, 40, 31. Tail 59 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot probably about equal to basal length.The estimated differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 92; length of tail, 25; length of hind foot, 16 (probably average difference is less).Externals.—As described inM. f. panamensis(figure21) except that foot soles are slightly more hairy.Color.—As described inMustela frenata panamensisexcept that: back is near Reddish Black, tone 2 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344; chin, lips, and throat white or whitish; remainder of underparts near (c) Ochraceous-Buff; color of underparts rarely extending distally onto toes of forefeet. Least width of color of underparts, in eleven specimens, averaging 23 (10-36) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail, in six specimens, averaging 36 (31-38) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.Skull and teeth.—Male (based on 2 adults, no. 3.2.1.6. from vicinity of San José and no. 11408, U. S. Nat. Mus., from "Costa Rica"): See measurements and plates25-30; weight, 5.9 grams; basilar length 49 +; zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth in undiseased skulls less than length of upper premolars (less than distance between posterior borders of P2 and P4) and less than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum more or less (about equal to) length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; tympanic bulla longer or shorter than (about equal to) lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than (about equal to) rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa directly below posterior border of m2.Female: Skull of adult unknown.
Type.—Male, young, skull and skin; no. 13770/37149, U. S. Nat. Mus.; San José, Costa Rica; obtained by C. H. Van Patten.
The skull (plates28-30) is complete and unbroken. All teeth are present and unworn. The skin apparently has been remade. It lacks the distal two-thirds of the tail. The head is somewhat shrunken. The color is possibly faded but if so only to a slight degree. Otherwise, the skin is in good condition. The orange color of the underparts is so intense as to suggest that the full, adult pelage has not been acquired. No white markings are present on the face. There is no sex mark on the label attached to the skin but the size and proportions of the skull and the scrotal pouch on the skin prove that the specimen is a male. The presence of sutures on the dorsal face of the rostrum and the short, wide, and low sagittal crest show the specimen to be young.
Range.—Costa Rica. Altitudinal and zonal range unknown. See figure29on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs fromM. f. panamensisin lighter color of upper parts (tone 2 rather than tone 4 of Reddish Black of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344) and longitudinally flat interorbital region of skull; fromM. f. nicaraguaein darker color of upper parts (of Oberthür and Dauthenay, tone 2 of pl. 344 rather than tone 4 of pl. 342) and greater width (more than 7) of tympanic bulla.
Description.—Size.—Male: No collector's measurements available of fully grown animals. Estimated measurements of adult males: Total length, 470; length of tail, 165; length of hind foot (taken from dried skins of 3 adults), 52 (50-52). Tail estimated to average 55 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot more or less than (about equal to) basal length.
Female: A subadult or adult, from the Candelaria Mountains, and a subadult from Irazú, measure, respectively: Total length, 370, 385; length of tail, 130, 150; length of hind foot, 40, 31. Tail 59 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot probably about equal to basal length.
The estimated differences in external measurements of the two sexes are: Total length, 92; length of tail, 25; length of hind foot, 16 (probably average difference is less).
Externals.—As described inM. f. panamensis(figure21) except that foot soles are slightly more hairy.
Color.—As described inMustela frenata panamensisexcept that: back is near Reddish Black, tone 2 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344; chin, lips, and throat white or whitish; remainder of underparts near (c) Ochraceous-Buff; color of underparts rarely extending distally onto toes of forefeet. Least width of color of underparts, in eleven specimens, averaging 23 (10-36) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail, in six specimens, averaging 36 (31-38) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on 2 adults, no. 3.2.1.6. from vicinity of San José and no. 11408, U. S. Nat. Mus., from "Costa Rica"): See measurements and plates25-30; weight, 5.9 grams; basilar length 49 +; zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth in undiseased skulls less than length of upper premolars (less than distance between posterior borders of P2 and P4) and less than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth more or less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum more or less (about equal to) length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 5 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; tympanic bulla longer or shorter than (about equal to) lower molar and premolar tooth-row and longer or shorter than (about equal to) rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa directly below posterior border of m2.
Female: Skull of adult unknown.
Comparison of the skull of the male with that ofM. f. panamensishas been made in the account of that subspecies. As compared with that ofM. f. nicaraguaethe skull ofM. f. costaricensisis heavier and in every measurement taken is larger. The skull is generally more massive and it follows that most measurements of depth and width are greater in relation to the basilar length as well as actually greater. The individual teeth are larger and the tympanic bullae wider and at their anterior ends are more projected from the braincase. Indeed the skull is more like that ofM. f. goldmanithan like that ofM. f. nicaraguae.
Remarks.—The half dozen ill-prepared skins, with partial skulls inside, of this form in the United States National Museum long were referred either toMustela brasiliensisorMustela affinis. It was not until 1912 when Goldman studied these specimens that the distinctive characters of the Costa Rican weasel were recognized and made the basis of the namecostaricensis.
M. f. costaricensisis well differentiated fromM. f. nicaraguaeandM. f. goldmaniwhich occur to the northward and fromM. f. panamensiswhich occurs to the southward and is a large, heavy-skulled, dark-colored animal with white facial markings restricted or absent. In the type specimen and the female from the Candelaria Mountains the white facial markings are only narrow facial bars or a few white hairs, but in the young male from Cervantes there is a well developed bar 6 millimeters wide on each side of the face and a separate nasofrontal spot, 10 x 12 mm. The young female from Cachí has a V-shaped frontonasal spot, on the right side of the face a white bar 5 mm. wide and 17 mm. long connected with the color of the underparts, and on the left side a white spot in front of the ear and another between the ear and eye. White facial markings were not recorded in the other specimens. The color of the upper parts is only a little less dark than those ofM. f. panamensis. Owing to the numerous white hairs on the dorsal side of the neck, the nape of the female from the Candelaria Mountains has a frosted appearance not present in other specimens.
M. f. costaricensisis a large animal and among its geographic neighbors is approached in size only by a specimen ofpanamensisfrom Boquete, Panamá. Also the young male from Cervantes suggestspanamensisin the less flattened interorbital region, but even so is more likecostaricensis. The small size of two young males, one from Navarro and the other from the vicinity of San José, is suggestive ofM. f. nicaraguae. However, the large size of most of the specimens and the configuration of the skull are more as inM. f. goldmanithan inM. f. nicaraguaeand thus suggest that the known specimens are of high mountain subspecies. The long black tip of the tail is another point of resemblance toM. f. goldmani, the high mountain subspecies to the north. Perhaps in the lowlands of Costa Rica, there are weasels of another subspecies.
Of the eight skulls examined for malformation of the frontal sinuses, each of the two adults and two subadults shows signs of having the frontal sinuses infested with parasites.
Specimens examined.—Total number, 14, listed by localities from north to south.Costa Rica: Irazú (Frasu or Irasu on label), 3000 M., 1[4]; Cervantes, 1[2]; San José, 1[91]; vicinity of San José, 2[7]; Azahar Cartago, 1[78]; Tucurrique, 1[7]; Cachí, 1[7]; El Muñco [= Muñeco?] (Río Nivarro [= Navarro?]), 4000 ft., 10 mi. S Cartago, Caribbean Slope, 1[76]; Navarro, 1[91]; Candelaria Mts., 1[75]; no locality more definite than Costa Rica, 3[91].
Specimens examined.—Total number, 14, listed by localities from north to south.
Costa Rica: Irazú (Frasu or Irasu on label), 3000 M., 1[4]; Cervantes, 1[2]; San José, 1[91]; vicinity of San José, 2[7]; Azahar Cartago, 1[78]; Tucurrique, 1[7]; Cachí, 1[7]; El Muñco [= Muñeco?] (Río Nivarro [= Navarro?]), 4000 ft., 10 mi. S Cartago, Caribbean Slope, 1[76]; Navarro, 1[91]; Candelaria Mts., 1[75]; no locality more definite than Costa Rica, 3[91].
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates1,25,26,27,28,29and30
Mustela frenata panamensisHall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 45:139, September 9, 1932; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.Mustela brasiliensis, Alston, Biol. Cent. Amer., Mammalia, p. 78, 1879.Putorius affinis, Bangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., 39:49, April, 1902; Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, July 10, 1914.Mustela affinis, Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:10, January 23, 1912; Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, July 10, 1914.Mustela affinis costaricensis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916; Goldman, Smithsonian Miscel. Col., 69 (no. 5): 161, 1920.
Mustela frenata panamensisHall, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 45:139, September 9, 1932; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ. 473:109, November 20, 1936.
Mustela brasiliensis, Alston, Biol. Cent. Amer., Mammalia, p. 78, 1879.
Putorius affinis, Bangs, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoöl., 39:49, April, 1902; Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, July 10, 1914.
Mustela affinis, Goldman, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 25:10, January 23, 1912; Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 28:143, July 10, 1914.
Mustela affinis costaricensis, Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 35:101, April 28, 1916; Goldman, Smithsonian Miscel. Col., 69 (no. 5): 161, 1920.
Type.—Female, subadult, skull and skin; no. 170970, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Río Indio, Canal Zone, near Gatún, Panamá; February 17, 1911; obtained by E. A. Goldman; original no. 20897.The skull is complete and unbroken. The left lower incisor is broken off but all the other teeth are present and entire. The skin is well made and seems to be in faded, worn, first, adult pelage.Range.—Sea level (type locality) to 5800 feet (Boquete, see Bangs [1902:49]); Upper Tropical and Lower Tropical life-zones of Panamá. See figure29on page221.Characters for ready recognition.—Differs from bothM. f. meridanaandM. f. costaricensisin darker tone (tone 4 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344) of color of upper parts and in convex dorsal outline of skull (Compare figures of mentioned subspecies on plates25-27).Description.—Size.—Male: Two adults from Boquete in the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, nos. 10112 and 10113, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 480 and 400; length of tail, 170 and 143; length of hind foot, 52 and 43. Hind feet of two other adult males measure 46 on dried skins. Tail, in two specimens mentioned above, is 55 and 56 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot, in each of three adults, slightly longer than basal length. Corresponding measurements of no. 178970 from Mt. Pirre are: 422, 164, 50. Tail 64 per cent (same per cent as in young male, no. 137514 from Boquete) as long as head and body, and hind foot longer than basal length.Female: An adult and a young from Chiriquí, nos. 18434 and 18435 (Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia), measure, respectively: Total length, 372, 389; length of tail, 138, 144; length of hind foot, 42, 41. The type specimen measures: Total length, 408; length of tail, 159; length of hind foot, 46.5. Tail 64 per cent as long as head and body, and hind foot longer than basal length.The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes from the vicinity of Boquete are: Total length, 59; length of tail, 15; length of hind foot, 6.Externals.—Longest facial vibrissae black and extending beyond posterior border of ear; carpal vibrissae wholly, or in part, black and extending as far as hypothenar pad; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure21.Color.—Usually, posterior fourth of each upper lip and sometimes few hairs in front of ear, white; sides and top of head and neck posteriorly to, or behind, shoulders, black; dark areas at angles of mouth confluent with color of upper parts; tip of tail, black; remainder of upper parts near (n) Bay of Ridgway and Reddish Black, tone 4, pl. 344 of Oberthür and Dauthenay; chin and lips, whitish; remainder of underparts Warm Buff or near (16´c) Ochraceous-Buff; near (12) Salmon-Orange in juveniles and small young; color of underparts extending distally on posterior sides of forelegs to wrists, but not to soles, and on hind legs to or slightly below knees. Least width of color of underparts, in seven specimens, averaging 18 (extremes 11-28) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail, in five adults and subadults, averaging 45 (extremes 41-50) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.Skull and teeth.—Male (based on three adults from Boquete): See measurements and plates25-30; weight, 5 (4.5-5.4) grams; basilar length, 45.2 (42.8-48.3); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars and more than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth not less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum approximately same (more or less than) length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more or slightly less than (approximately equal to) length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row or length of rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa directly below posterior fourth of m2.Female (based on subadult, type specimen and one adult from Siola): See measurements; weight, 3.3 and 2.1 grams; basilar length, 41.3 and 39.3; zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less than (about equal to) that between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than combined length of upper premolars or than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more than length of P4 (less in the adult); anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of five upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than (about half) distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla less than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row or than rostrum.
Type.—Female, subadult, skull and skin; no. 170970, U. S. Nat. Mus., Biol. Surv. Coll.; Río Indio, Canal Zone, near Gatún, Panamá; February 17, 1911; obtained by E. A. Goldman; original no. 20897.
The skull is complete and unbroken. The left lower incisor is broken off but all the other teeth are present and entire. The skin is well made and seems to be in faded, worn, first, adult pelage.
Range.—Sea level (type locality) to 5800 feet (Boquete, see Bangs [1902:49]); Upper Tropical and Lower Tropical life-zones of Panamá. See figure29on page221.
Characters for ready recognition.—Differs from bothM. f. meridanaandM. f. costaricensisin darker tone (tone 4 of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 344) of color of upper parts and in convex dorsal outline of skull (Compare figures of mentioned subspecies on plates25-27).
Description.—Size.—Male: Two adults from Boquete in the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, nos. 10112 and 10113, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length, 480 and 400; length of tail, 170 and 143; length of hind foot, 52 and 43. Hind feet of two other adult males measure 46 on dried skins. Tail, in two specimens mentioned above, is 55 and 56 per cent as long as head and body. Length of hind foot, in each of three adults, slightly longer than basal length. Corresponding measurements of no. 178970 from Mt. Pirre are: 422, 164, 50. Tail 64 per cent (same per cent as in young male, no. 137514 from Boquete) as long as head and body, and hind foot longer than basal length.
Female: An adult and a young from Chiriquí, nos. 18434 and 18435 (Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia), measure, respectively: Total length, 372, 389; length of tail, 138, 144; length of hind foot, 42, 41. The type specimen measures: Total length, 408; length of tail, 159; length of hind foot, 46.5. Tail 64 per cent as long as head and body, and hind foot longer than basal length.
The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes from the vicinity of Boquete are: Total length, 59; length of tail, 15; length of hind foot, 6.
Externals.—Longest facial vibrissae black and extending beyond posterior border of ear; carpal vibrissae wholly, or in part, black and extending as far as hypothenar pad; hairiness of foot-soles as shown in figure21.
Color.—Usually, posterior fourth of each upper lip and sometimes few hairs in front of ear, white; sides and top of head and neck posteriorly to, or behind, shoulders, black; dark areas at angles of mouth confluent with color of upper parts; tip of tail, black; remainder of upper parts near (n) Bay of Ridgway and Reddish Black, tone 4, pl. 344 of Oberthür and Dauthenay; chin and lips, whitish; remainder of underparts Warm Buff or near (16´c) Ochraceous-Buff; near (12) Salmon-Orange in juveniles and small young; color of underparts extending distally on posterior sides of forelegs to wrists, but not to soles, and on hind legs to or slightly below knees. Least width of color of underparts, in seven specimens, averaging 18 (extremes 11-28) per cent of greatest width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail, in five adults and subadults, averaging 45 (extremes 41-50) per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
Skull and teeth.—Male (based on three adults from Boquete): See measurements and plates25-30; weight, 5 (4.5-5.4) grams; basilar length, 45.2 (42.8-48.3); zygomatic breadth more or less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 or than between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; mastoid breadth less than postpalatal length; postorbital breadth more than length of upper premolars and more than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; interorbital breadth not less than distance between foramen opticum and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; breadth of rostrum approximately same (more or less than) length of tympanic bulla; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla more or slightly less than (approximately equal to) length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row or length of rostrum; anterior margin of masseteric fossa directly below posterior fourth of m2.
Female (based on subadult, type specimen and one adult from Siola): See measurements; weight, 3.3 and 2.1 grams; basilar length, 41.3 and 39.3; zygomatic breadth more than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and more or less than (about equal to) that between anterior palatine foramen and anterior margin of tympanic bulla; postorbital breadth more than combined length of upper premolars or than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; least width of palate more than length of P4 (less in the adult); anterior margin of tympanic bulla as far posterior to foramen ovale as width of five upper incisors; height of tympanic bulla less than (about half) distance from its anterior margin to foramen ovale; length of tympanic bulla less than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row or than rostrum.
The skull of the one adult female from Chiriquí is 58 per cent lighter than the average of the two adult males.
The skull of the male ofM. f. panamensisas compared with that ofM. f. meridana, is heavier and averages larger in nearly every measurement taken. Relative to basilar length, tooth-rows, orbitonasal length, interorbital breadth and zygomatic breadth averaging narrower. Mastoid breadth always narrower. Tympanic bullae longer, narrower, and usually slightly less protruded. P4 and m1 larger. Dorsal outline of skull, viewed laterally, more convex. Postorbital breadth actually and relatively greater. Postorbital processes, mastoid processes, and sagittal crest not so well developed. Differences between skulls of females, in so far as known, similar to those described between males.
As compared withM. f. costaricensis,M. f. panamensishas a lighter skull averaging smaller in every measurement taken except interorbital breadth, which is greater. Relative to basilar length, width of rostrum, interorbital breadth and depth of skull at plane of upper molars, less. Tympanic bullae shorter, narrower, less protruded. P4, M1, and m1 larger. Dorsal outline of skull, viewed laterally, more convex. Postorbital breadth relatively and actually greater. Postorbital processes, mastoid processes, sagittal crest and lambdoidal crest less developed. No skull of an adult female ofM. f. costaricensisis available for comparison.