Chromosomal, Biochemical, Mensural, Penile, and Cranial Variation in Desert Woodrats (Neotoma lepida)

Abstract

Evidence derived from studies of chromosomes (C-banded, G-banded, and Ag-As silver stained), allozymes and blood proteins, mensural characters, qualitative cranial characters, and features of the glans penis indicates that the two chromosome races of Neotoma lepida are sibling species. Patterns of chromosome variation and the distribution of electrophoretically detected alleles at several loci indicate that gene flow between chromosome races is severely or completely restricted. Phenetic differences are comparable to those demonstrated between species in the N. floridana group and between species in other rodent species groups. Problems in the taxonomy of the lepida species group are discussed in the context of maintaining some measure of classificatory consistency within the genus Neotoma.