Gh. Wilson et Jr. Choate, TAXONOMIC STATUS AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF THE SOUTHERN BOG LEMMING, SYNAPTOMYS COOPERI, ON THE CENTRAL GREAT-PLAINS, Journal of mammalogy, 78(2), 1997, pp. 444-458
We assessed geographic and nongeographic variation among populations o
f the southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi) in Arkansas, Iowa, Ill
inois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota based on morpholog
ical data, Univariate and multivariate analyses of 15 cranial characte
rs revealed no consistent sexual dimorphism. Geographic variation in c
ranial morphology of adults varied clinally, with individuals increasi
ng in size from north to south and east to west, The largest individua
ls overall were from southwestern Kansas (S. c. paludis) and southwest
ern Nebraska (S. c. relictus), and the smallest individuals were from
populations in eastern Illinois (S. c. gossii), We found only minor st
eps in clinal variation of cranial morphology, which may be attributed
to periodic or recent isolation, No individuals of S. c. paludis and
S. c. relictus have been collected since 1946 and 1968, respectively,
and these taxa may be extinct, Because of the paucity of specimens, ta
xonomic conclusions as to the intraspecific relationships of populatio
ns are speculative, We, therefore. recommend retention of the currentl
y recognized subspecies S. c. gossii, S. c. paludis. and S. c. relictu
s until genetic characters can be analyzed.