DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS OF MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERS IN FOUR SPECIES OF APODEMUS (MURIDAE: RODENTIA) FROM EASTERN TURKEY AND IRAN

Abstract

We studied 122 wood mice of the subgenus Sylvaemus that were collected from seven localities in Iran (the Zagros Mts. and the Caspian region), seven localities in eastern Turkey, and one locality in Armenia. After capture, mice were kept in captivity until reaching their adult size. The following species were determined using allozyme electrophoresis: Apodemus uralensis (= microps), A. arianus (= hermonensis), A. flavicollis, and a distinct form reported provisionally as A. cf. hyrcanicus. Body weight, four external measurements, and 22 dental and skull measurements were subjected to Discriminant Function Analysis in order to find morphometric criteria allowing species identification. Although there was a close similarity among studied species, 96%, 95%, and 95% of individuals were classified correctly when original measurements, log-transformed data, and residuals of the regression on condylobasal length (size-out procedure) were used, respectively. While A. uralensis, A. cf. hyrcanicus, and A. arianus were clearly separated from each other, A. flavicollis partly overlapped with A. arianus, as well as with A. cf. hyrcanicus in the morphometric space.