| Zapus Temporal range: EarlyPliocene to Recent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Zapus hudsonius preblei | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Zapodidae |
| Genus: | Zapus Coues, 1875 |
| Type species | |
| Dipus hudsonius/ Zimmermann, 1780 | |
| Species | |
Zapus hudsonius | |
Zapus is agenus of North Americanjumping mouse. It is the only genus whose members have thedental formula1.0.1.31.0.0.3.Zapus are the only extant mammals aside from theAye-aye with a total of 18 teeth.[1]
This genus was first separated fromOld Worldjerboas by Coues in 1875. Members of this genus are very similar in appearance, all species having long tails, long hind feet and yellowish-brownpelage above and white below, the colors distinctly separated by a yellowish-orange lateral line.
The genus contains eight extantspecies. At least some of these subspecies designations are thought to be tenuous:[2][3]
TheOkanogan Valley jumping mouse (Zapus okanoganensis), which is restricted to theOkanogan Valley and the eastern slopes of theCascade Range, was described in 2017.[3] Although it is definitely thought to be a distinct species, it has not yet been properly published and is thus considered anomen nudum, and is tentatively classified inZ. saltator until that happens.[2] A number of fossil species are also known, with the oldest beingZapus rinkeri from theBlancan ofKansas.[4]
The Linux distributionUbuntu named its version 17.04 after the small creature, giving it the codenameZesty Zapus.[5]
Authority control databases: National |
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