NO. 4 HOPLOMYS (THICK-SPINED RATS) HANDLEY 3 



Variation. — Specimens of Hoplomys have never before been availa- 

 ble in series. Fourteen specimens, seven of which are adult, recently- 

 collected on Cerro Azul, Panama, now permit a fairly good estimate 



Fig. i. — Distribution of Hoplomys gymnurus. All known specimen localities 



are indicated. 



of individual variation in the genus. Eleven specimens from Darien 

 and nine from the Canal Zone, are also helpful. In addition, random 

 series of up to 75 specimens per sample of the closely related 

 Proechimys semispinosits have been used to evaluate the variations 

 seen in the smaller series of Hoplomys. 



