关键词: 鼠科, 阴茎形态学, 阴茎头, 阴茎骨, 背突, 尿道小瓣

Abstract: The value of the male phallus in the classification of rodents has been proved by Burt (1936), Hooper (1958), Lidicker (1968) and many others. In this report, 13 species belonging to four genera of the Family Muridae, and a total number of 53 penises were prepared and examined.1. On the basis of analysing our 53 penises, we found that all the lateral bacular processes of the Muridae have a common characteristic, i.e. they are all cartilaginous.2. The distinctive features of the penises of Rattus: (1) absence of dorsal papilla and lateral papillae; (2) both have completely essified distal bacula; (3) the proximal baculum is straight, not bowed dorsally; (4 ) lack of medial projection of the urethral lappets, in addition, urethral lappets are low, and most of them extend only half way to the height of distal bacular elements; (5) both of the outer craters have lateral grooves located midlaterally.3. The examination of the seven species of Rattus showed that the R.fulvescence, R. niviventer and R. andersoni have more common features, including: (1) all their distal bacula possess a bifid tip, while the other species do not; (2) all have small dentates on the rim of the outer crater, while the others possess lobulate papillae; (3) a high numerical value in robustness of the distal baculum.4. Characteristics features of the Apodemuss : (1) dorsal papilla and lateral papillae are present; (2) the distal baculum is cartilaginous; (3) the proximal baculum shaft is conspicuously bowed dorsally; (4 ) the distal baculum is drawn close to the two lateral bacular processes and seem to be arranged in a trilobed row; (5) all the urethral lappets possess medial projections; (6) lack of lateral grooves.5. The glans of Apodemus agrarius and A. chevricri are distinct from the other two species, A,draco and A. peninsulae by their slender dorsal papilla and by having two small medial projections of the urethral lappets instead of one. The penis of A. agrarius is distinct from the other species by its larger size of the baculum.6. The most conspicuous features of Mus are: (1) lack of dorsal papilla and lateral papillae; (2) a strongly bifid and hooked distal baculum that projects beyond the outer and inner crater; (3) a complete lack of dorsal, ventral and lateral grooves in the outer crater; (4 ) inner crater is taller than the outer crater; (5 ) lack of medial projections of the urethral lappets; (6) the proximal bacular shaft is bowdorsally.7. Micromys penis: (1) presence of dorsal papilla, but lack of lateral papillae; (2) the tip of the cartilaginous distal baculum projects conspicuously beyond the outer and inner crater; (3) there is no noticeable expansion in the base of the proximal baculum; (4 ) Micromys is like Mus in lacking the medial projection of the urethral lappets; (5) the most distinctive feature is its enormously elongated baculum; the index number of the baculum length is 10, that means the length of the baculum is one-tenth of the body length.Analysis of physical characteristics and various measurements revealed that there are many distinct intergeneric and interspecific differences. These results of the study has laid foundation for further studies to draw definite conclusion regarding the true affinities of the Chinese Muridae.

Key words: Muridae, Phallic morphology, Glans penis, Baculum, Dorsal papilla, Urethral lappet