7G8 



RODENTIA 



PITYMYS SAVII de Selys-Loiigchamps. 



1838. Arvicola savii de S^lys-Longchamps, Revue Zoologiquc, p. 248, 



October, 1838. 

 1845. A[rvicola'] selysii Bonaparte, Atti della sesta Eiunione degli Scien- 



ziati Italian!, Milano, 1844, p. 350 (synonym of savii ; Pecchioli 



cited as autliority). 

 1857. Arvicola savii Blasius, Siiugethiere Doutschlands, p. 394. 

 1908. Pitymys savii Miller, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 8th ser., i, p. 205, 



February, 1908. 

 1910. Pitymys savii Trouessart, Faune Mamm. d'Europe, p. 187. 



Type locality. — Neighbourhood of Pisa, Italy. 

 Geographical distrihution. — Peninsula of Italy from Piedmont 

 southward ; apparently occurring for the most part in the plains 

 and lower country. 



Diagnosis. — Size and form essentially as in Pitymys subter- 

 raneus, but feet more robust, ear relatively smaller, and palmar 

 and plantar tubercles more reduced ; skull usually more heavily 

 built, much less depressed, the dorsal profile slightly convex, the 

 general appearance much as in P. multiplex, except that brain- 

 case is shallower, less elongated and more sub-quadrate ; third 

 upper molar about as long as second, normally with three closed 

 triangles, its posterior loop simple, without inner re-entrant 

 angle, its main axis directed backward and slightly outward. 



Colour. — The colour resembles that of Pitymys suhterraneus 

 and P. multiplex, but is paler, and seldom, if ever, a clear hair- 

 brown. Upper parts suffused with a light indefinite buffy or 

 very pale wood-brown. Feet whitish grey as in P. multiplex, 

 none of the specimens examined showing any trace of the 

 dusky suffusion characteristic of P. suhterraneus. 



Skull. — As compared with that 

 of P. suhterraneus the skull is broader, 

 more angular (parietal and temporal 

 ridges usually evident, though low) 

 and less depressed, with slightly 

 convex dorsal outline, relatively 

 shorter rostrum, and more squarish, 

 less elongated brain-case (length to 

 back of interparietal slightly less 

 than breadth over roots of zygo- 

 mata). The z^^gomata are shorter 

 and more widely projecting. Brain- 

 case squarely truncate posteriorly 

 as in the related species. The 

 palatal aspect of the skull shows no 

 special peculiarities. The skull is 

 smaller than that of P. multiplex, 

 less elongate. The rostrum is also 



FIG. 158. 

 Pitymys savii. Nat. size. 



and the brain- case 

 relatively shorter. 



