18 



INSECTn^OEA 



TALPA ROMANA Thomas. 



1902. Talpa romana Thomas, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 7tli ser., x, p. 517, 



December, 1902. Type in British Museum. 

 1904. Talpa romana Camcrano, Mem. Reale Accad. Sci. di Torino, Qnd ser., 



Liv, p. 81. 

 1910. Talpa romana Trouessart, Faune Mamm. d'Europe, p. 64. 



Type locality. — Ostia, Eome, Italy. 



Geographical distribution. — Vicinity of Rome, Italy. 



Diagnosis. — Externally similar to Talpa europsea. but a trifle 

 larger ; skull and dentition more robust than in the related 

 animal (greatest diameter of m^ about 4 mm. ; length of upper 

 tooth-row, exclusive of incisors, 14 to 15 mm.) ; mesostyle of all 

 three upper molars bifid at tip. 



Skull and teeth. — Except that it is rather more robust the 

 skull does not differ appreciably from that of Talpa europsea, 

 though posterior base of zygoma appears to be usually situated 

 somewhat further back. Teeth as in Talpa europsea, but larger 

 throughout, a diffei'ence particularly noticeable in the first upper 

 molar and in the large lower cheek-teeth (the combined length of 



Fig. 4. 



Crown of niol.ars in Talpa europsea (a), and T. romana (b). 



these four teeth about 10 mm. instead of about 8 mm.). In form 

 the teeth are .similar to those of the related animal, but the 

 mesostyle of m^ is relatively as well as actually larger, and its tip 

 is distinctly bifid, though not so deeply as in the succeeding 

 teeth. Cingulum between outer bases of main cusps of lower 

 molars better develojied than in T. europsea, its edge frequently 

 forming an evident cusp, especially in m.y 



Measurements. — Extei'nal measurements of type (from 

 Thomas) : head and body, 126 ; tail, 29 ; hind foot, 19 (all 

 measurements from skin). Four males from the vicinity of 

 Rome (in alcohol) : head and body, 138-3 (130-14-5) ; tail, 28-6 

 (27-30) ; hind foot, I'J -6 (19-20). Three females from the same 



