Geomorphometric differences among four species of Microtus in Turkey (Mammalia: Rodentia)

Comparison of the Morphometric Characteristics of Four Species of the Genus Microtus Schrank, 1798 (Mammalia: Rodentia) in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey

“…There are no differences between the external and skull measurements and diagnostic characters of our specimens of M. levis and those of Ognev (1964), Mažeikytė et al, (1999), Massing (1999), Kefelioğlu, (1995). Selçuk et al, (2018) reported that there was no sexual dimorphism in M. levis based on multivariate analysis of external and skull morphometrics, but inter-sexual differences were found in our specimens from skull measurements. In our study based on average values, M. mystacinus has the shortest conylobasal length and occipitonasal length.…”

“…In addition, the baculum morphology of M. lydius, reported by Yiğit et al, (2012), is similar to that of our M. hartingi specimens. Markov et al, (2014) Although Selçuk et al, (2018) noted that M. guentheri has the largest skull, condylobasal length and occipitonasal length were larger in our specimens of M. hartingi.…”

Social but lonely: Species delimitation of social voles and the evolutionary history of the onlyMicrotusspecies living in Africa

“…Adaptation toward more xeric conditions may be evident in the evolution in dental and cranial characters of fossil and extant voles. Compared with other social voles, M. guentheri has a larger skull and a wider tympanic bulla (Selçuk et al, ), both characteristics positively associated with xeric habitats (Tabatabaei et al, ) and frequently seen in desert rodents (Lay, ; Pavlinov & Rogovin, ). Early Pleistocenic fossils from Mt.…”

“…M. dogramacii and M. qazvinensis are another such cases, suggesting that they cannot both represent valid species. Given the unexpected placement of the Jordan voles in this group, it is possible that M. dogramacii, described from a few isolated localities in central Turkey (Kefelioğlu & Kryštufek, 1999;Selçuk, Kaya, & Kefelioğlu, 2017) and M. qazvinensis, which was considered an Iranian endemic (Golenishchev et al, 2003;Mahmoudi et al, 2015), may actually belong to a widely distributed species. On the contrary, there is some preliminary evidence of speciation between M. irani irani and M. i. karamani.…”

“…To overcome these disadvantages, they have adjusted to an increased metabolic rate and body mass, which requires the intake of food with high-energetic value when temperature rises, so their survival is linked to permanent water resources and the availability of sufficient fresh vegetation (Libhaber & Eilam, 2004 Adaptation toward more xeric conditions may be evident in the evolution in dental and cranial characters of fossil and extant voles. Compared with other social voles, M. guentheri has a larger skull and a wider tympanic bulla (Selçuk et al, 2017), both characteristics positively associated with xeric habitats (Tabatabaei et al, 2012) and frequently seen in desert rodents (Lay, 1972;Pavlinov & Rogovin, 2000). Early Pleistocenic fossils from Mt.…”