The Baculum in the Chipmunks of Western North America
                        
                     
                                                         
                
                    The Baculum in the Chipmunks of Western North America
                                            
                            By John A. White
                            
                                26 Nov, 2018                            
                            
                         
                                        
                                                                        Introduction
The baculum is the bony part of the penis. In the species of the subgenus Neotamias the proximal part of the baculum is termed the shaft, and the distal upturned part is termed the tip. On the dorsal side of the tip there is a longitudi
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                                                Introduction
The baculum is the bony part of the penis. In the species of the subgenus Neotamias the proximal part of the baculum is termed the shaft, and the distal upturned part is termed the tip. On the dorsal side of the tip there is a longitudinal ridge termed the keel. The proximal end of the shaft is termed the base (see fig. 19). Depending on the species, the shaft varies from 2.11 to 5.28 mm. in length, and the base may or may not be widened or deepened.
The purpose of this report is to: (1) Show the usefulness of the structure of the baculum as a taxonomic character in chipmunks; and (2) compare a classification based on the structure of the baculum with a classification based on the structure and appearance of the skull and skin. Less