Israel Journal of Zoology   Issue:  Volume 50, Number 4 / 2004   Pages:  311 - 319   URL:  Linking Options MOLAR SIZE VARIATION IN THREE SPECIES OF PINE VOLE IN ASIA MINOR: MICROTUS SUBTERRANEUS, M. MAJORI, AND M. DAGHESTANICUS (RODENTIA: ARVICOLINAE) BORIS KRYS TUFEK A1 and VLADIMIR VOHRALíK A2 A1 Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska, Garibaldijeva 18, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia A2 Department of Zoology, Charles University, Vinicná 7, 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic Abstract: The degree to which morphometric parameters may be used to distinguish between sibling species of pine voles is not well understood. Results are reported here for a study of intra- and interspecific variation in twelve morphometric parameters measured for molar teeth of three pine vole species from Asia Minor. The results show that intraspecific variation was significantly higher in Microtus subterraneus, being equivalent to the total variation in the other two species combined (M. majori and M. daghestanicus). Only 68% of specimens of M. subterraneus were classified correctly using Discriminant Function Analysis. The sample of M. subterraneus from eastern Asia Minor overlapped the distribution of M. daghestanicus almost completely along the first two canonical variates. The geographically marginal sample of M. subterraneus from north-western Asia Minor was unique in having a relatively short posterior cup of the 3rd upper molar. A west-to-east decrease in the length of the 1st lower molar was demonstrated in M. subterraneus. The references of this article are secured to subscribers.

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