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Comparison Of The Geographic Variation In Two Species Of Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus), Karen Marie Watts

Theses & Dissertations

Standard external measurement data was recorded from study skins at four Texas institutions. These collections also provided the specimen skulls from which twelve standard cranial measurements were made with digital calipers to the nearest 0.01 mm. This study included 111 Mexican ground squirrels (Spermophilus mexicanus) and 76 spotted ground squirrels (Spermophilus spilosoma). Most specimens had been collected in Texas and Mexico. Fifteen spotted ground squirrels had also been captured in four other states. An adaptation of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was used to subdivide the study area, so that geographic variation could be determined. Comparison of mean and …