A key to the skulls of the mammals of Cyprus

Abstract

The present article consists of an identification key that pertains to the skulls of the mammals of Cyprus, including Cetacea, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Lagomorpha, Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, and Chiroptera. This key is developed based on material from Cyprus and nearby regions, aiming to encompass the unique characteristics of the island's mammal species. All genera included in the key are illustrated to support taxonomic identifications.

Keywords:

• Identification guide
• cranial differentiation
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank Dr M. Dimaki (GMNH), Dr D. Michailidis (WL), Dr N. Spassov (NMNHS), Dr Geraldine Verón (MNHN), Dr S. Merker (SMNS) and Dr Frank Zachos (NHMW) for providing access in their institutes’ collections, as well as the SYNTHESYS programme AT-TAF 1340 for funding the first author (N.K.) for the research visit to NHMW. We would like to thank C. Mlinar for the photos of the skull of B. physalus.

Additional information

Funding

N.K. would like to thank the Giraffe Conservation Foundation for funding part of the research. B.K. acknowledges support from Slovenian Research Agency (P1-0255).