Apodemus alpicola Heinrich 1952

Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn, 2005, Order Rodentia - Family Muridae, Mammal Species of the World: a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3 rd Edition), Volume 2, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, pp. 1189-1531 : 1262

Apodemus alpicola Heinrich 1952

Apodemus alpicola Heinrich 1952 , J. Mammal., 33: 260.

Type Locality: Allgäu, Osterachtal, S Germany.

Vernacular Names: Alpine Field Mouse.

Synonyms: Apodemus alpinus Heinrich 1951 .

Distribution: Endemic to NW parts of the Alps: S Germany, Austria ( Bauer and Spitzenberger, 1996; Spitzenberger and Englisch, 1996), Liechtenstein, Switzerland ( Hausser, 1995; Margry, 1996; Maurizio, 1994), N Italy ( Amori et al., 1999), and SE France; altitudinal range 550-2000 m ( Mitchell-Jones et al., 1999).

Conservation: IUCN – Data Deficient.

Discussion: Sylvaemus group. Originally described as a high-altitude form of A. flavicollis , but recognized as distinct by Storch and Lütt (1989), who reviewed morphology and distribution of S. alpicola and noted that it occurred syntopically with A. sylvaticus and A. flavicollis . The specific integrity of S. alpicola has been confirmed by allozymic and gene sequence studies ( Filippucci, 1992; Filippucci et al., 2002; Liu et al., 2004; Michaux et al., 2002 a; Reutter et al., 2003; Serizawa et al., 2000; Suzuki et al., 2003; Vogel et al., 1991). Filippucci’s (1992) report of allozymic variation at 28-33 loci suggested that A. alpicola may be most closely related to A. uralensis , which occurs from E Europe to NW China (similar results are reported for Turkish samples by Filippucci et al., 1996), and that A. uralensis , A. flavicollis , A. alpicola , and A. hermonensis (= A. witherbyi ) separated recently from a common ancestor. The sister-species relationship between A. alpicola and A. uralensis was corroborated by Michaux et al.’ s (2002 a) phylogenetic analyses of the mtDNA cytochrome b and 12S rRNA sequences, and Reutter et al.’s (2003) analyses of cytochrome b haplotype divergences, but not by complete mtDNA cytochrome b sequences ( Liu et al., 2004). A discriminant function analysis of cranial and dental measurements for distinguishing samples of A. sylvaticus , A. flavicollis , and A. alpicola provided by Reutter et al. (1999), who also documented variation in banded chromosomes between A. alpicola and A. uralensis ( Reutter et al., 2001) . Michaux et al. (2001 a) and Reutter et al. (2002) described a relatively simple process where species-specific primers derived from mtDNA cytochrome b sequences can be used to rapidly identify specimens of A. alpicola , A. flavicollis , and A. sylvaticus in regions of sympatry or syntopy. Included in Mezhzherin’s (1997 a) review of N Eurasian Apodemus , and also reviewed by Mitchell-Jones et al. (1999). Musser et al. (1996) listed specimens and discussed subgeneric allocation.