Comparison of craniological parameters in Mus musculus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 and Mus hortulanus Nordmann, 1840

Abstract

To analyse craniological parameters of M.m.musculus and M.hortulanus, 14 measurements were taken, two indices were calculated, and three qualitative traits were considered. The material comprised 169 skulls of M.m.musculus captured in the European part of the U.S.S.R., in central Ukraine, and in Poland, and 225 skulls of M.hortulanus captured in central and south-eastern Ukraine and in Moldova. It has been found that these two species can be differentiated using the following parameters: breadth of zygomatic process of maxilla, index K, zygomatic index, shape of masseter plate, and frequency of zygomatic foramen. In order to identify an individual to species, it is necessary to consider the total set of these characteristics, and first of all quantitative traits.