Discriminant analysis of skull morphometric characters in Apodemus sylvaticus, A-flavicollis, and A-alpicola (Mammalia; Rodentia) from the Alps


Autoria(s): Reutter B.A.; Hausser J.; Voge, P.
Data(s)

1999

Resumo

A total of 108 Apodemus skulls from Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France and Germany was studied to determine morphological characteristics useful in identifying individuals as Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus, 1758), A. flavicollis (Melchior, 1834) or A. alpicola Heinrich, 1952. The original assignment of the samples to the three species was based on molar cusp morphology, body proportions, pelage coloration, and allozyme analysis. The 24 measured cranial characters used together accurately discriminated between the three species and correctly classified 100% of the individuals to species. A stepwise discriminant function analysis showed that 6 cranial characters are sufficient to differentiate between the three species, with a correct classification above 97%. Fisher's linear discriminant function coefficients can be used directly for classification of unknown specimens.

Identificador

http://serval.unil.ch/?id=serval:BIB_8FA375DE667D

isbn:0001-7051

isiid:000083244100008

Idioma(s)

en

Fonte

Acta Theriologica, vol. 44, no. 3, pp. 299-308

Palavras-Chave #Apodemus; alpine mouse; skull morphometrics; stepwise discriminant function; identification; Alps
Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

article