A New Pocket Mouse (Genus Perognathus) from Kansas

A careful survey of Kansas’s small mammals uncovers a surprising find: a distinct population of pocket mice that had slipped past earlier classifications. By comparing dozens of specimens from western Kansas with those from neighboring states, the researcher identifies a group that merits its own name. This discovery adds a new layer to our understanding of the region’s biodiversity.

The newly described subspecies stands out for its relatively large size and a strikingly light, buff‑colored coat, dotted sparingly with black hairs. Its skull measurements differ subtly yet consistently from those of its close relatives, giving it a unique cranial profile. The author honors a long‑time museum curator by dedicating the name to him, highlighting the collaborative spirit behind the work.

Detailed tables of body lengths, tail proportions, and dental dimensions accompany vivid field notes from sites across Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Oklahoma. Listeners will gain insight into the meticulous process of taxonomic research and the quiet excitement of expanding the catalog of North American wildlife.