Geographic Variation in the Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys Megalotis, on the Central Great Plains and in Adjacent Regions

A scientific publication prepared for the University of Kansas, written in the early 1960s. This research paper focuses on the geographic variation of the western harvest mouse in the central Great Plains and surrounding areas, examining its range, habitat preferences, and subspecies classifications based on extensive specimen analysis. The book provides a detailed study of the morphological and color variations of the harvest mouse across different geographic regions. It reports on findings based on an examination of numerous specimens, highlighting the relative uniformity of the species in terms of pelage color and size variations, compared to other cricetid species. The authors identify two subspecies—Reithrodontomys megalotis aztecus and Reithrodontomys megalotis dychei—characterizing their distinct features based on geographic location and morphological measurements. Alongside anatomical data, the paper discusses the taxonomic history and classification of these subspecies, contributing valuable information to the understanding of rodents in this region.