Geographic variation of Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) (Milne-Edwards, 1868) (Muridae : Murinae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables

Geographic variation of Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) (Milne-Edwards, 1868) (Muridae: Murinae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables. Zoological Studies 47(4): 393-401. A sample of 134 specimens of Apodemus chevrieri was investigated in the present study. Individuals were divided into male and female groups, and these were respectively subjected to multivariate analysis. Results indicated that 3 geographic populations of A. chevrieri inhabit southwestern China: a Sichuan population in western Sichuan Province; a northwestern Yunnan population ranging from northwestern Yunnan Province eastward to southern Sichuan Province; and a central Yunnan population in central Yunnan Province. In addition, a coefficient of difference analysis was performed among these 3 geographic populations. The results suggested that these 3 geographical populations of A. chevrieri belonged to 2 subspecies. Furthermore, we discuss the relationships of the subspecific differentiation of A. chevneri with changes in latitude in southwestern China.

This work was completed at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KIZ, CAS). We are indebted to Drs. J. Yang, M.W. Zhang, Z.M. Zhou, and G.H. Yu, KIZ, CAS, with special thanks to Dr. W.S. Yang, of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA for his critical review of this manuscript. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30770251), National Science Foundation (DEB-0103795), National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (2007CB411600), and Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province (2007C099M).