- Türk Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi
- Vol: 7 Issue: 3
- Comparison of the Morphometric Characteristics of Four Species of the Genus Microtus Schrank, 1798 (...
Comparison of the Morphometric Characteristics of Four Species of the Genus Microtus Schrank, 1798 (Mammalia: Rodentia) in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey
Authors : Serdar Gözütok, Irfan Albayrak
Pages : 737-748
Doi:10.30910/turkjans.739735
View : 7 | Download : 3
Publication Date : 2020-07-20
Article Type : Research
Abstract :The aim of this study was to determine and compare some morphometric characteristics of Microtus species occurring in the central Anatolia region of Turkey. This study is based on 209 specimens belonging to four species of the genus Microtus collected in this region of Turkey between 2003 and 2010. Some features concerning pelage coloration, cranial characters, tooth morphotype and baculum morphology of the species were recorded to determine their taxonomic characteristics. It was determined that four species of the genus Microtus occur in the study area, including Microtus dogramacii, Microtus guentheri, Microtus hartingi and Microtus mystacinus. Microtus hartingi has been found to be widespread throughout central Anatolia. Microtus guentheri is located in the type locality and nearby provinces. M. guentheri and M. hartingi were not found to be sympatric. M. hartingi has the longest hind-foot and M. mystacinus has the longest tail. The UPGMA trees were constructed for each sex, using skull and external measurements of specimens belonging to the genus Microtus. As a result of, M. dogramacii and M. mystacinus being the most similar, M. guentheri is the sister species to these and M. hartingi is the most distinctively different.Keywords : Microtus, Cricetidae, taxonomy, Turkey, morphometric