TAXONOMIC STATUS OF PEROMYSCUS-GOSSYPINUS-ANASTASAE (ANASTASIA ISLANDCOTTON MOUSE)

Four subspecies of cotton mice (Peromyscus gossypinus) were examined t o assess the taxonomic validity and affinities of the mice on Cumberla nd Island, Georgia, and Anastasia Island, Florida, both of which are p resently referred to P. g. anastasae. Genetic analysis of 44 loci in 3 79 mice from 14 populations (six island, eight mainland) and morphomet ric analysis of 27 characters on 683 mice from 20 populations were per formed. Polymorphic loci and heterozygosity per population averaged 40 and 10%, respectively, and there was no reduction of genetic variabil ity on islands. Insular mice tended to be smaller than mainland mice. Every population was genetically or morphologically different from all other populations for at least one character in pairwise comparisons. However, when all populations were examined simultaneously, the pairw ise differences were not significant. While each population was statis tically distinct, none was unusually distinct, and neither the Cumberl and Island nor Anastasia Island populations of P. g. anastasae warrant recognition as separate subspecies.