Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family Cricetidae
Subfamily Sigmodontinae

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Calomys (Bensonomys)—Benson Vesper Mouse // Calomys (Bensonomys) arizonae—Arizona Vesper Mouse // Sigmodon—Cotton Rats

Sigmodontinae—Sigmodontine Mice and Rats

This is primarily a South American subfamily. Two genera (Sigmodon and Oryzomys) reach into the U.S., but only the cotton rats inhabit our region.

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Calomys (Bensonomys) sp.—Benson Vesper MicePleistocene distribution of Calomys (Bensonomys) sp.

Synonyms. Bensonomys.

Calomys (Bensonomys) has variously been recognized as a subgenus of Calomys or as a separate genus, Bensonomys. A number of species of Calomys currently occur in South America, but the genus doesn't reach our region. Calomys (Bensonomys) appears to share a common ancestor with Peromyscus. With about a dozen species, Calomys (Bensonomys) is widespread in Hemphillian and Blancan deposits.

Sites.

Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011).

Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008).

Literature. Morgan et al. 2011; Murray 2008.

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Calomys (Bensonomys) arizonae—Arizona Vesper Mouse (Gidley 1922) Pleistocene regional distribution of Bensonomys arizona

Synonyms. Bensonomys arizonae.

Sites.

Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); California Wash (Johnson et al. 1975); Curtis Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); Virden (Morgan et al. 2008: cf.).

Literature. Johnson et al. 1975; Morgan and White 2005; Morgan et al. 2008.


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Last Update: 8 Apr 2014