Publication details
Morphometric key for the discrimination of two wood mice species, Apodemus sylvaticus and A. flavicollis
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | http://publication.nhmus.hu/pdf/actazool/ActaZH_2009_Vol_55_1_31.pdf |
| Keywords | Apodemus; discrimination; classification trees |
| Description | Sixteen cranial measurements were examined in 311 genetically identified specimens of Apodemus sylvaticus and A. flavicollis in order to establish a simple identification key diagnosing these two morphologically similar species using the classification tree technique. The resulting identification key includes three cranial measurements only (length of the lower tooth row, condylobasal length, length of bully tympanica) and enables separation of the species under investigation with 98.3% accuracy. Moreover, some previously proposed identification criteria for A. sylvaticus and A. flavicollis are reviewed and their applicability is discussed. |