The structure of craniometrical diversity of grey voles Microtus subgenus Alexandromys

Abstract

The sample of 1671 intact skulls (15 measurements) of grey voles from Alexandromys subgenus and Microtus oeconomus was studied. Representatives of M. oeconomus and M. middendorffii are very similar in craniometrical features. The race M. o. kharanurensis is morphologically distant from other representatives of M. oeconomus, and possibly should not be included into this species. M. sachalinensis morphologically is similar to M. fortis. The specimens of M. gromovi are located inside the limits of internal variation of M. middendorffii. The both latter species are similar to M. mongolicus. There are western and eastern groups found inside M. mongolicus. The level of morphological differences between M. maximowiczii, M. mujanensis and M. evoronensis does not differ from the same between two groups of M. mongolicus or between races of M. fortis. The Russian part of the range of M. maximowiczii should be enlarged due to finding of the population of this species from the floodmeadows of Ussuri River. The morphological similarity between M. limnophilus and M. mongolicus is revealed. The voles M. l. malygini does not display similarity with the type specimen of M. limnophilus. The propriety for considering malygini as a race of M. limnophilus should be questioned.