Myopus schisticolor Lilljeborg 1844

• Main Authors: Don E. Wilson, Russell A. Mittermeier, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2017
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Rodentia; Cricetidae; Myopus; Myopus schisticolor; Fennoscandian; Sakhalin; taiga
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6706570; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F06D13FFA3206A0D8A11E301E2F9ED

29. Wood Lemming Myopus schisticolor French: Lemming des bois / German: Waldlemming / Spanish: Lemming de bosque Taxonomy. Myodes schisticolor Lilljeborg, 1844, near Lillehammer, Mjosen, Gudbrandsdal, Norway. Mpyopus schisticoloris the only extant species of Myodes and is closely related to brown lemmings (Lemmus). Five subspecies, as tentatively recognized, do not match evolutionary structuring of the species. Phylogeographical assessment retrieved two major lineages: one restricted to a small area in the Far East and the other one widespread. Monotypic. Distribution. Fennoscandian Peninsula across N & C Russia, as far E as Pacific coast of Russian Far East and Sakhalin I, S to N Mongolia and NE China (Heilongjiang). Descriptive notes. Head—body 90-115 mm, tail 12-19-7 mm; weight 20-38 g (males) and 20-40 g (females). Externally, the Wood Lemming resembles voles rather than brown lemmings. It is small and robust, with large and blunt head, well-developed ears concealed in long fur, small eyes, and very short tail. Feet are slender and normally sized, with naked plantar and palmar surfaces; there are five plantar pads of considerable size. Females have eight nipples, two pectoral and inguinal pairs each. Pelage is slate-gray, with dull rusty brown patch of variable size; in one extreme, patch extends from eyes to rump but is frequently restricted to posterior back. Feet and tail are blackish slate. Skull is broad and depressed with nearly flat dorsal profile; nasals bend downward. Zygomatic arches are heavy. Supraorbital ridges merge into medial crest. Mandible shows no peculiarities, except a small coronoid process. Molar are rootless, broad, and heavy, with cement in reentrant folds. Enamel pattern is very similar to that in brown lemmings. Habitat. Taiga-like habitats with abundant moss at elevations of 600-2450 m. Wood Lemmings occupy coniferous and mixed forests, forest edge, and open areas, preferring old spruce (Picea, Pinaceae) stands with plenty of decaying wood and continuous thick moss layer. Snow ...