Catalog of Type Specimens of Recent Mammals: Rodentia (Sciuromorpha and Castorimorpha) in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Abstract

s m i t h s o n i a n c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o z o o l o g y • n u m b e r 6 4 0 SerieS PublicationS of the SmithSonian inStitutionEmphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report on the research and collections of its various museums and bureaus. The Smithsonian Contributions Series are distributed via mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world.Manuscripts submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press from authors with direct affiliation with the various Smithsonian museums or bureaus and are subject to peer review and review for compliance with manuscript preparation guidelines. General requirements for manuscript preparation are on the inside back cover of printed volumes. For detailed submissions requirements and to review the "Manuscript Preparation and Style Guide for Authors," visit the Submissions page at www.scholarlypress.si.edu.

Catalog of Type Specimens of Recent Mammals: Rodentia (Myomorpha, Anomaluromorpha, and Hystricomorpha) in the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

“…We follow the format set by Fisher and Ludwig (2012) with two exceptions. Type locality is now set apart, as a subheading, as is remarks, where appropriate.…”

“…Type specimens are "the international standards of reference that provide objectivity in zoological nomenclature," and as such, "every institution in which namebearing types are deposited should publish lists of name-bearing types in its possession or custody" (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1999:79). This is the fourth type catalog of USNM mammals published to date, following Lyon and Osgood (1909;1,415 specimens reported), Poole and Schantz (1942;2,824 specimens reported), and Fisher and Ludwig (2012; 843 specimens reported for the Order Rodentia, suborders Sciuromorpha and Castorimorpha). However, we continue to deviate from the two earlier catalogs and follow the precedent set by the NMNH Division of Fishes (Vari and Howe, 1991) and Division of Amphibians and Reptiles (Reynolds et al, 2007), as continued by Fisher and Ludwig (2012), in which the type collection is divided into smaller, more manageable taxonomic reports, rather than addressed in one monograph.…”

“…This is the fourth type catalog of USNM mammals published to date, following Lyon and Osgood (1909;1,415 specimens reported), Poole and Schantz (1942;2,824 specimens reported), and Fisher and Ludwig (2012; 843 specimens reported for the Order Rodentia, suborders Sciuromorpha and Castorimorpha). However, we continue to deviate from the two earlier catalogs and follow the precedent set by the NMNH Division of Fishes (Vari and Howe, 1991) and Division of Amphibians and Reptiles (Reynolds et al, 2007), as continued by Fisher and Ludwig (2012), in which the type collection is divided into smaller, more manageable taxonomic reports, rather than addressed in one monograph. The current work, the second of an anticipated four such publications, completes the order Rodentia (suborders Myomorpha, Anomaluromorpha, and Hystricomorpha).…”