Morphotypic variability of masticatory surface pattern of molars in the recent and Pleistocene Lemmus and Myopus (Rodentia, Cricetidae) of Europe and Western Siberia

In this article, we present the results of morphological study, applying multivariate statistical analysis, of seven samples of recent Lemmini species (Lemmus lemmus, L. sibiricus, Myopus schisricolor) and eight samples of the ancient Siberian lemmings from the Middle and Late Pleistocene localities...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta zoologica (Stockholm) 2015-01, Vol.96 (1), p.14-29
Main Authors: Ponomarev, Dmitry, Puzachenko, Andrey, Isaychev, Konstantin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cricetidae
Europe
Evolution
Late Pleistocene
Lemmini
Lemmus
Lemmus lemmus
Middle Pleistocene
Morphology
multivariate statistical analysis
Paleontology
Rodentia
Rodents
small mammals
true lemmings
Western Siberia
wood lemming
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Summary:In this article, we present the results of morphological study, applying multivariate statistical analysis, of seven samples of recent Lemmini species (Lemmus lemmus, L. sibiricus, Myopus schisricolor) and eight samples of the ancient Siberian lemmings from the Middle and Late Pleistocene localities, mainly in northeastern Europe. On the basis of studying variability of masticatory surface pattern of molars, 24 morphotypes have been described. The differences in morphotypes frequencies were found between the recent Myopus and Lemmus and between the two Norwegian lemming samples. There are some indications of an evolutionary trend in molar morphology of the Siberian lemmings of the Middle, Late Pleistocene, and the recent of Eastern Europe. The distinctions, at least, between the Middle Pleistocene and modern lemmings exceed a species level.
ISSN:0001-7272
1463-6395
DOI:10.1111/azo.12047