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Abstract

The muskrat is hunted animal for hunting trophies, fur and financial reasons in many countries. Morphometric parameters can vary in different populations of muskrat. The aim of this work was to perform morphometric parameters analysis of skulls of muskrat in Lithuania (secondary introducents) and to compare with primary introducents (Poland and Finland) with respect to sex and weight. According to Pankakoski et al. (1987), a total of 22 measurements were taken on each skull of muskrat. The skull measurements of secondary introducents (Lithuania) females were mostly larger than those of males (p<0.05). But the muskrat skulls were longer and wider of males than of females of primary introducents (Finland and Poland). The mean values of measurements on condylobasal length (CL), braincase length (BL) and weight (BW) showed that were higher in Finnish and Polish than in Lithuanian populations of muskrat (p<0.05). These can depend on adaptive changes: habitat quality, diet and others. The strong relationship between muskrat body weight and skull length were determined in Lithuania (r=0.72, p<0.001).