underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior
to each ear, posterior third of each upper lip, lower lips and
chin white or more often darker than Ochraceous-Buff and
therefore same color as belly; dark spot posterior to each angle
of mouth present but small; tip of tail black; remainder of upper
parts near (16 _j_) Buckthorn Brown to near (_h_) Yellow Ocher and
from tone 2 to 4 of Brown Pink of Oberthür and Dauthenay, pl. 297,
but with a trifle more reddish brown. Upper parts of uniform color
except for occasional slight darkening of nose, forehead, and
areas around eyes. Underparts darker (_a_) than Ochraceous-Buff.
Color of underparts extends distally on posterior sides of
forelegs over toes, onto antipalmar faces of feet and wrists, on
medial sides of hind limbs over antiplantar faces of toes, tarsal
region and sometimes in diluted fashion on proximal third of
underside of tail. Least width of color of underparts averaging,
in 6 male topotypes, 55 (43-81) per cent of greatest width of
color of upper parts. Black tip of tail in same series of males
averaging 58 (53-63) mm. long; thus averaging longer than hind
foot and 33 per cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on 6 ads., type and 5 topotypes):
See measurements and plates 22-24. As described in _M. f.
nigriauris_ except that: Weight (6 ads.), 5.3 (4.5-6.1) grams;
basilar length, 47.6 (46.0-48.6); (one skull, no. 335, with
postorbital breadth more than distance between posterior borders
of P4 and P2); 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 2 to 3-1/2 (including I3) upper incisors; length
of tympanic bulla more than length of lower molar and premolar
tooth-row and shorter than rostrum.
Female: Adult skull of typical female not seen.
As compared with the skull of the type specimen of _inyoensis_, skulls
of adult males of _pulchra_ are larger throughout, relatively broader,
especially in the preorbital part of the skull, have more inflated
tympanic bullae, and are less convex in dorsal outline. Comparison of
the skull with that of _latirostra_ has been made in discussion of that
subspecies. Comparison of skulls of adult males of _nigriauris_ and
_pulchra_ shows that those of _pulchra_ average larger in every
measurement taken except those of m1, M1, P4, and depth of skull at
posterior borders of upper molars. The basilar length is only slightly
more and it follows that, relative to this length, other measurements
of the skull are relatively, as well as actually, larger. In no one
measurement is there an entire lack of overlap, but the skulls of adult
males, and probably adult females, may be distinguished from those of
_nigriauris_ by the combination of the following mentioned, average
differences: Tympanic bullae larger in each of three dimensions;
preorbital and interorbital parts of skull broader and notably heavier;
interorbital breadth greater; zygomatic arches more expanded laterally;
mastoid processes more prominent. As compared with _xanthogenys_,
differences of similar nature, but of greater degree, distinguish
_pulchra_. As compared with those of _nevadensis_ (represented by
specimens from Mono Co., Calif.), skulls of adult males of _pulchra_
average larger in every measurement taken and no overlap exists in
basilar length, orbitonasal length, mastoid breadth, zygomatic breadth,
length of tympanic bulla, or depth of skull at either the anterior
margin of the basioccipital or at the posterior margins of the upper
molars. Relatively, the preorbital portion is about the same size in
the two forms.
_Remarks._--The best material of this big weasel was obtained in 1910
and 1911 by John Wimmer and forwarded to the California Academy of
Sciences through John R. Rowley, although in 1905, one specimen had
been obtained by A. S. Bunnell for the collections of the United States
Bureau of Biological Survey, another by J. Grinnell for the Museum of
Vertebrate Zoölogy in 1912, and in 1933, another by L. M. Huey, for the
San Diego Society of Natural History.
The males from the type locality are relatively uniform in size and
shape of skull. The one exception is no. 137935, U. S. Nat. Mus.,
slightly younger than the others. Its skull is relatively more slender
than any of the others and does not display several of the differential
characters. The male, no. 127566, U. S. Nat. Mus., from Alila (=
Earlimart) is intermediate in cranial features between _pulchra_ and
_xanthogenys_ as known from specimens taken in the vicinity of Fresno.
The skull of the female, no. 127565, from the same place, is too young
to provide diagnostic characters. Since the skull of an adult female of
topotypical _pulchra_ is unknown, doubt attaches to the identification
of the adult, female specimen, no. 115895, U. S. Nat. Mus., from
Delano. It has a relatively broad skull in comparison with the adult
female of _xanthogenys_ from Los Banos. The adult female, no. 9998, San
Diego Soc. Nat. Hist., from 2 mi. SW Simmler, shows approach to
_nigriauris_ in slightly reduced size. The skin alone from Coalinga, a
male, taken on April 10, 1935, measures 462, 179, 47. The adult female,
with crushed skull, from 4 miles east of Coalinga, measures 350, 129,
40. In size, these specimens agree better with _pulchra_ than with
_xanthogenys_. The skin alone from 3 miles south of Coalinga is unsexed
and without external measurements. Skulls of adults from Coalinga are
needed to permit of more positive identification of the subspecies
found there. The female from 4 miles east of Coalinga, taken on
February 21, 1936, is in process of molt on the underparts, and the
longer hair which is near (20´) Naples Yellow contrasts strongly with
the incoming shorter hair which is near (10 _c_) Salmon-Orange. The
skin alone, no. 16270, Mus. Vert. Zoöl., from Isabella, was made up
from a decayed animal and is of but little use. It is referred to
_pulchra_ purely because of geographic nearness of Isabella to the type
locality of _pulchra_. The most that can be told from the specimen is
that it is a relatively light-colored, bridled weasel. The fact that
the color is slightly darker than in _pulchra_ may or may not indicate
intergradation with _nevadensis_. No. 54103/41042, U. S. Nat. Mus.,
consisting of crushed bits of skull and the skin of the head, is from
Willow Spring, Kern County. This marginal locality is really in the
Mojave Desert rather than in the San Joaquin Valley. The light color of
the skin of the head suggests _pulchra_, but it is realized that a
complete specimen might show the animal there to be unlike _pulchra_.
None of the skulls shows evidence of having had the frontal sinuses
infested by parasites.
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 18, listed by counties from
north to south. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in the
Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy.
=California.= _Fresno County_: Coalinga, 1[23]; 4 mi. E Coalinga,
1; 3 mi. S Coalinga, 1[8]. _Tulare County_: Alila (= Earlimart),
2[91]. _Kern County_: Delano, 1[91]; Buttonwillow, 9 (6[8],
2[91]); Isabella, 1; Willow Spring, 1[91] _San Luis Obispo
County_: 2 mi. SW Simmler, 1[87].
=Mustela frenata inyoensis= Hall
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates 22, 23 and 24
_Mustela frenata inyoensis_ Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ.
473:99, November 20, 1936.
_Putorius xanthogenys_, Merriam, N. Amer. Fauna, 11:25, June 30,
1896 (part).
_Mustela xanthogenys xanthogenys_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
79:99, December 31, 1912.
_Type._--Male, adult, skull (with skeleton) and skin; no. 25907,
Mus. Vert. Zoöl.; Carl Walter's Ranch, 2 mi. N Independence, Inyo
County, California; June 26, 1917; obtained by A. C. Shelton;
original no. 3143.
The skull (plates 22-24) is complete and unbroken. All teeth are
present and entire. The skin is well made and in good condition.
_Range._--From 3700 feet (Lone Pine) to at least 4000 feet
(Alvord); Lower Sonoran Life-zone of the floor of Owens Valley in
Inyo County, California. See figures 29 and 30 on pages 221 and
314.
_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f.
nevadensis_ in presence of white facial markings; from _M. f.
pulchra_ in near (_l_) Brussels Brown rather than near (16 _j_)
Buckthorn Brown to near (_h_) Yellow Ocher color of upper parts
and basilar length of less than 45 in males; from _M. f.
latirostra_ in brownish rather than blackish color of inside of
ear and orbitonasal length of more than 15.
_Description._--_Size._--Male: Two adults, the type specimen and
no. 25392/32805, measure, respectively, as follows: Total length,
423 and 390; length of tail, 170 and 145; length of hind foot, 42
and 44. Tail is 67 and 59 per cent as long as head and body.
Length of hind foot less than basal length.
Female: No. 12400, Field Mus. Nat. Hist., which is young, has the
following measurements: Total length, 390; length of tail, 150;
length of hind foot, 39. Tail is 63 per cent as long as head and
body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.
The differences in external measurements between the two sexes, as
represented by the male type specimen and by the young female,
are: Total length, 33, length of tail, 20; length of hind foot, 3.
_Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae black or dark brown and
reaching beyond ear; carpal vibrissae same color as underparts and
extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness of foot-soles
(in summer pelage) slightly less than shown in figure 19.
_Color._--Large spot between eyes, band confluent with color of
underparts, on each side of head extending anterodorsally anterior
to each ear, upper throat, chin, lower lips and in some specimens
part or all of upper lips white; patch between eyes and bars in
front of ears tinged with some shade of yellowish in one specimen;
dark spot posterior to each angle of mouth present in four of five
specimens; tip of tail black; remainder of upper parts, in summer,
near (_l_) Brussels Brown or tones 1 to 2 of Raw Umber of Oberthür
and Dauthenay, pl. 301; slightly darker brown on forehead, nose
and about eyes. In winter near (_j_) Snuff Brown or lighter than
Brussels Brown with a smoked effect. Underparts Buff-Yellow,
winter and summer. Color of underparts extends distally on
posterior sides of forelegs over toes onto antipalmar faces of
feet and wrists and on medial sides of hind legs over antiplantar
faces of toes. Least width of color of underparts averaging, in 5
available specimens 34 (24-42) per cent of greatest width of color
of upper parts. Black tip of tail, in two adult males, averaging
53 (45 and 60) mm. Thus longer than hind foot and averaging 34 per
cent of length of tail-vertebrae.
_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on the type): See measurements and
plates 22-24. As described in _M. f. nigriauris_ except that:
Weight, 4.4 grams; basilar length, 44.7; postorbital breadth not
less than width of basioccipital measured from medial margin of
one foramen lacerum posterior to its opposite; length of tympanic
bulla less than length of lower molar and premolar tooth-row.
Female: Adult unknown.
Compared with the skull of the male of _nevadensis_, no single
difference not covered by individual variation in _nevadensis_ has been
detected. Selected differences of _inyoensis_ in comparison with
_latirostra_ are larger size, less inflated tympanic bullae and
relative narrowness of the postorbital, interorbital and preorbital
parts of the skull. Comparison of the skull with that of _M. f.
pulchra_ is made in the account of that subspecies.
_Remarks._--Although two specimens of this subspecies were taken during
the Death Valley Survey conducted by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, only three
additional individuals are known to have been saved as study specimens
since that time.
_M. f. inyoensis_ as now known may be thought of as closely similar to
_M. f. nevadensis_ except for the presence of well-developed white
facial markings like those found in the weasels of the San Joaquin
Valley and coastal region of California south of San Francisco Bay. The
nonwhite areas of the head are almost the same color as the back and
not distinctly blackish as in _M. f. latirostra_ and _M. f.
nigriauris_. The one specimen in the winter coat, no. 25392/32805, U.
S. Nat. Mus., from Lone Pine, is brown rather than white. The brown has
the pale smoke-tinge common in the winter pelage of subspecies whose
members are either brown or white in winter. The range of this
subspecies is thought to include the floor and lower elevations of
Owens Valley although it may occur in limited numbers southwestward
along the base of the Sierra Nevada and through the mountains in places
of low elevation like Walker Pass its range may meet that of _pulchra_.
The type specimen was taken in an alfalfa field by ranch hands, who,
according to A. C. Shelton (MS), stated that the species was common at
the type locality. None of the five specimens shows infestation of the
frontal sinuses by parasites.
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 5, listed by localities from
north to south.
=California.= _Inyo County_: Alvord, 4000 ft., 1 (U. S. Nat.
Mus.); 2 mi. N Independence, 1 (Mus. Vert. Zoöl.); Lone Pine, 3 (2
in Field Mus. Nat. Hist. and 1 in U. S. Nat. Mus.).
=Mustela frenata neomexicana= (Barber and Cockerell)
Long-tailed Weasel
Plates 1, 22, 23, 24, 34, 35 and 36
_Putorius frenatus neomexicanus_ Barber and Cockerell, Proc. Acad.
Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1898:188; Lantz, Trans. Kansas Acad.
Sci., 19:178, 1905.
_Mustela frenata neomexicana_, Miller, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull.,
79:100, December 31, 1912; Bailey, Animal Life of Carlsbad
Cavern, p. 97, 1928; Hall, Carnegie Instit. Washington Publ.
473:108, November 20, 1936.
_Mustela frenatus neomexicanus_, Bailey, N. Amer. Fauna, 35:19,
September 5, 1913.
_Type._--Male, adult, skull and skin; no. 10475, Mus. Comp. Zoöl.;
Armstrong's Lake, Mesilla Park, Dona Ana County, New Mexico;
February 1, 1898; obtained by A. C. Tryson; original no. 58 of C.
M. Barber.
The skull is imperfectly cleaned but unbroken. The right upper
incisors, right P2 and left p3 are broken away. The skin is
indifferently stuffed but in a good state of preservation except
that the distal part of the tail is missing. The animal's coat is
ragged, and this imperfect appearance is heightened by injury to
the posterior part of the body, probably at the time of capture.
_Range._--From 3800 feet (type locality) to 9000 feet (Cloudcroft,
N. Mex.); Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran life-zones of northern
México, southeastern Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas,
panhandle of Oklahoma, southeastern Colorado and southwestern
Kansas. See figure 29 on page 221.
_Characters for ready recognition._--Differs from _M. f. frenata_
and _M. f. texensis_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than Brussels Brown
color of upper parts, mastoid breadth of adult males ordinarily
more, rather than less, than postpalatal length; from _M. f.
leucoparia_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than Argus Brown color of
upper parts, distance from anterior margin of tympanic bulla to
foramen ovale less, rather than more, than four-fifths height of
tympanic bulla; from _M. f. arizonensis_ and _M. f. nevadensis_ by
Buckthorn Brown, rather than near (14 _n_) Brussels Brown or, in
winter, white color of upper parts, in presence of white frontal
spot continuous with color of underparts, in basilar length of
more than 46 mm. in males and 40 mm. in females; from _M. f.
longicauda_ by Buckthorn Brown rather than near (_h_) Clay Color
of upper parts, by presence of white facial markings on Argus
Brown head, and by length of tooth-rows amounting to less than 37
per cent of basilar length; from _M. f. primulina_ by Buckthorn
Brown rather than Brussels Brown color of upper parts, in presence
of white frontal spot and broad white bands on side of head, in
anteriorly truncate rather than anterolaterally rounded bullae and
zygomatic breadth of more than 30 in males and 24 in females.
_Description._--_Size._--Male: The type specimen (see Barber and
Cockerell, 1898:188) measured: Total length, 500; length of tail,
205; length of hind foot, 50. Tail 70 per cent as long as head and
body. Length of hind foot less than basal length.
Female: No. 21779 from Tombstone, Arizona, measured: Total length,
419; length of tail, 165; length of hind foot from dried skin, 41
(probably 43 in flesh). Tail 65 per cent as long as head and body.
Length of hind foot less than basal length.
The average differences in external measurements of the two sexes,
as known from these two individuals, are: Total length, 81; length
of tail, 40; length of hind foot, 7.
Compared with _M. f. frenata_, the size, proportions of parts and
difference in size of the two sexes, appears to be about the same.
_Externals._--Longest facial vibrissae colored like upper parts
[in the type specimen some of the "long bristles of the upper lip"
are white as pointed out by Barber and Cockerell (_op. cit._:
188)] and extending beyond ear; carpal vibrissae colored like
underparts and extending to apical pad of fifth digit; hairiness
of foot-soles as shown in figure 20.
_Color._--Broad white bands on sides of head, extending
anterodorsally anterior to each ear, confluent with white spot
between eyes and with color of underparts; posterior half or all
of each upper lip edged with white; usually few white hairs on top
of head between ears; remainder of top of head near Argus Brown of
Ridgway and Chocolate, tone 4, of Oberthür and Dauthenay; dark
spot posterior to each angle of mouth usually absent; tip of tail
black; remainder of upper parts varying, in different specimens,
from Buckthorn Brown to Dresden Brown of Ridgway, and Brown Pink
(tones 3 to 4, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); underparts
Antimony Yellow or near (_c_) Warm Buff of Ridgway, and Brown Pink
(tone 1, pl. 297, of Oberthür and Dauthenay); color of underparts
extends distally on legs over forefeet and hind feet. Least width
of color of underparts averaging 46 (41-55) per cent of greatest
width of color of upper parts; black tip of tail 35 to 45 mm. long
in females; 43 to 68 mm. long in males and averaging 21 (20-36)
per cent as long as tail-vertebrae.
No specimen of this subspecies in the white winter coat has been
seen. Animals taken in midwinter are available from Mesilla Park,
Willcox, and 10 miles east of Roswell.
From _M. f. frenata_, _neomexicana_ differs in: upper parts and
underparts much lighter colored; white facial markings more
extensive; color of underparts more extended onto feet. From _M.
f. leucoparia_, _neomexicana_ differs as follows: above and below,
much lighter colored, but white facial markings less extensive and
color of underparts less extended onto feet and legs.
_Skull and teeth._--Male (based on adults: the type; no. 131582
from Berino, New Mexico; and no. 1485 from Seward Co., Kansas):
See measurements and plates 22-24. As described in _Mustela
frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 6.2 (4.9 and 7.5); basilar
length, 49.3 (48 and 50.5); mastoid breadth more than postpalatal
length; least width of palate less than length of P4; anterior
margin of masseteric fossa directly below m2 or heel of ml.
Female (based on three adults): See measurements and plates 34-36.
As described in _Mustela frenata frenata_ except that: Weight, 3.1
(2.6-3.5) grams; basilar length, 42.7 (40.8-45.5); zygomatic
breadth less than distance between condylar foramen and M1 and
more or less than distance between anterior palatine foramen and
anterior margin of tympanic bulla.
The skull of the female averages 50 per cent lighter than that of
the male.
As compared with the skull of the male of _M. f. frenata_, that of
_neomexicana_ is decidedly more angular and ridged. The postorbital
constriction is narrower, the mastoid breadth greater (it is less than
the postpalatal length in some subadult males), the sagittal crest much
higher with impressions of the temporal and masseter muscles carried
farther forward on the frontals, rostrum shorter and tympanic bullae
wider and more inflated. Similar, though less marked, differences exist
between the females. As compared with _M. f. leucoparia_ and _perotae_,
the same differences as noted above between _frenata_ and _neomexicana_
exist. In addition the tympanic bullae are so far removed from the
foramen ovale that the distance from the anterior end of each bulla to
the foramen ovale, instead of being less than the height of tympanic
bullae, is in _leucoparia_ more than four-fifths this height and in
_perotae_ more than the entire height. Also, in _perotae_, the
squamosal, anterior to each tympanic bulla, is ventrally convex rather
than ventrally concave as in _neomexicana_. Compared with _M. f.
longicauda_, _neomexicana_ is relatively narrower in the interorbital
region, has relatively shorter tooth-rows, a V-shaped rather than a
U-shaped interpterygoid space and in males has the interorbital region
flat rather than convex and the sagittal crest is higher. The same
differences are to be noted in comparison with _nevadensis_ but here
the difference in relative length of tooth-row is less. The same
differences exist also in comparison with _M. f. arizonensis_ except
that its interorbital breadth, relative to the rest of the skull, is
about the same. Difference in size is especially marked here; even
females of _neomexicana_ average larger than males of _arizonensis_.
_Remarks._--When Barber and Cockerell named this subspecies in 1898,
they had three specimens. Only two others are known to have been taken
before this time. These are a skeleton, without corresponding skin,
taken at Lozier, Texas, in 1890 by Wm. Lloyd, and no. 21779/36482, U.
S. Nat. Mus., taken on April 6, 1893, by R. D. Lusk at Tombstone,
Arizona. On the back of a label recently attached to the last mentioned
specimen the name C. K. Worthen appears and probably signifies that the
specimen was purchased from this dealer in vertebrate specimens.
_M. f. neomexicana_ has a large geographic range. The old male from
Liberal, Seward County, Kansas, extends the known range far to the
northeast. Geographically, this occurrence is logical for the
southwestern desertlike conditions extend to this part of Kansas.
Probably the subspecies occurs in southeastern Colorado and in the
panhandle of Oklahoma where conditions are similar. Bailey (1905:198)
lists _neomexicana_ as a member of the mammalian fauna of Texas. As
stated by him (_loc. cit._:198) this inclusion is based on geographic
grounds and not on actual specimens. Strecker (1926:13) also includes
_neomexicana_ in his list of Texas mammals but writes me, under date of
January 9, 1928, that "I included _Mustela frenata neomexicana_ as a
Texas mammal on the strength of its being mentioned by Bailey. . . ."
On better ground, Bailey (1928:97) lists the subspecies as occurring in
southeastern New Mexico at Carlsbad Cavern. However, Bailey (_loc.
cit._) knew of the existence of weasels just below El Paso and at
Langtry, Texas. An unsexed skeleton, no. 167891, in the United States
National Museum, from Lozier, Texas, is not certainly identifiable to
subspecies. If, as I think, the animal is a female, its skull is
intermediate between that of _frenata_ and _neomexicana_ although when
all features are considered it is seen to be nearest the latter. The
large size (basilar length of 46.5 mm.) may reflect some relationship
to _texensis_. The field notes of the collector furnished me by Dr. H.
H. T. Jackson (MS), describe the color as brownish yellow above and
sulphur below. The admission of this subspecies to the list of mammals
of Texas is made certain by the female (no. 1572, Texas Cooperative
Research Collection) taken on July 28, 1940, 1-1/2 mi. NW Kent, Texas,
by C. E. Scull.
The skull alone from Durango (City of), extends the known range far to
the south. This skull is typical of _neomexicana_. Skins from the same
place would be especially interesting as showing the approach, if any,
in color, of _neomexicana_ to _M. f. leucoparia_.
Mr. D. D. Stone of Casa Grande, Arizona, writes, under date of February
2, 1927, that a weasel was seen by an acquaintance of his in a field
near Chandler, Maricopa County, Arizona. Probably this was
_neomexicana_. If so, its range extends much farther west than
collected specimens show.