282 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF THE UNITED STATES 



Stripes and spots; dentition ^/t,, i/i, 3/3, 1/2: about 13 species, 

 generally southerly in range; 10 species in the United States. 



Key to the United States Species of Spiiogale 



ai In the States east of the jSIississippi. 



bi In the Atlantic and Gulf States, except Florida 5. putoriiis. 



hi In Florida 5. ambarvalis. 



a2 In the States west of the Mississippi. 

 bi In the central States. 



Ci From Nebraska and Minnesota southwards 5. interrupta. 



Co In the coast region of Louisiana and Texas 5. indianola. 



C3 On the eastern slopes of the Rockies S. tenuis. 



hi In the southwestern States. 



Ci From western Texas to central Arizona 5. leucoparia. 



Co In the Great Basin from northern Arizona to Idaho 5. gracilis. 



S. arizoncc. 

 hz On the Pacific slope 5. phena.x. 



S. piitorius (L.). Color black, with 4 white narrow longitudinal 

 stripes on the forward half of the body and 2 transverse stripes on the 

 hinder half on each side; end of tail white; length 516 mm.; tail 206 mm.; 

 hind foot 48 mm. : south Atlantic and Gulf States from western Virginia 

 to western Georgia, and westward into Mississippi. 



S. ambarvalis Bangs. Size small; tail short; color like 5. putorius; 

 length 386 mm.; tail 120 mm.; hind foot 40 mm.: eastern Florida. 



S. interrupta (Rafinesque) . White stripes much reduced, sometimes 

 represented by a few spots; tail wholly black: southern Minnesota and 

 eastern Nebraska to central Texas. 



S. indianola Merriam. Color similar to S. interrupta, but the tail 

 has a white tip; length 472 mm.; tail 183 mm.; hind foot 48 mm.: Gulf 

 coast of Louisiana and Texas. 



S. tenuis Howell. White markings very broad; length 450 mm.; 

 tail 165 mm.; hind foot 51 mm.: eastern slopes of the Rockies in New 

 Mexico and Colorado. 



S. leucoparia Merr. W^hite markings very broad ; no white of legs : 

 central Texas to New Mexico. 



S. gracilis Merr. Like S. leucoparia; length 381 mm,; tail 143 mm.; 

 hind foot 44 mm. : Great Basin from Arizona and California into Oregon 

 and Idaho. 



5. arizoncB Mearns. Like 5. gracilis , but larger: central New 

 Mexico and Arizona, southward. 



5. pJienax Merr. Dorsal pair of white stripes narrow, lateral pair 

 much broader; length 470 mm.; tail 154 mm.; hind foot ^2 mm.: Pacific 

 slope. 



