Zapus


Zapus is a genus of North American jumping mouse. It is the only genus whose members have the dental formula. Zapus are the only extant mammals aside from the Aye-aye with a total of 18 teeth.
This genus was first separated from Old World jerboas by Coues in 1875. Members of this genus are very similar in appearance, all species having long tails, long hind feet and yellowish-brown pelage above and white below, the colors distinctly separated by a yellowish-orange lateral line.

Taxonomy

The genus contains eight extant species. At least some of these subspecies designations are thought to be tenuous:
The Okanogan Valley jumping mouse, which is restricted to the Okanogan Valley and the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, was described in 2017. Although it is definitely thought to be a distinct species, it has not yet been properly published and is thus considered a nomen nudum, and is tentatively classified in Z. saltator until that happens. A number of fossil species are also known, with the oldest being Zapus rinkeri from the Blancan of Kansas.

In popular culture

The Linux distribution Ubuntu named its version 17.04 after the small creature, giving it the codename Zesty Zapus.