Will's Skull Page - Mountain Beaver Skull

Aplodontia rufa

Mountain Beaver

WILL'S SKULL PAGE

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Native to the N. American W. coast, similar in appearance to a musk rat and not closely related to beavers. The skull differs from other rodents in several features including the musculature of the jaw and the simplicity of the tooth structure. (ref.)

1. Mountain Beaver skull, lateral view

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1. Mountain Beaver skull, ventral view

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Internet Resources

Standard references :
American Society of Mammalogists Monographs
Smithsonian / Wilson & Reeder's Taxonomic List
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

Taxonomy:
Order - Rodentia (rodents)
Suborder - Sciuromorpha (squirrel-like)
Family - Aplodontiidae (sole member)

Scientific Name:
Aplodontia - "simple teeth"
rufa - "reddish"

Name:
Also known as sewellel from a Chinook word for a cloak made from the skin.

Dental Formula
U 1.0.2.3 - L 1.0.1.3

Measurements: (defined)
Condylobasal length - 68.0mm
Zygomatic width - 51.3mm (more)

Collection Data
Stage - Adult
Source - Courtesy of a private collector