Retrieving Peromyscus bullatus from P. difficilis (Rodentia: Cricetidae) through cranial morphometry in a mammal collection

Abstract

Peromyscus difficilis and Peromyscus bullatus species mice are sympatric and phenotypically resembled, reason why their misidentification is frequent. In this study we show that the use of cranial morphometric measurements, specifically of the tympanic bulla, helped greatly to correctly discriminate P. bullatus specimens from those of P. difficilis deposited in a mammal collection.