Craniometric comparison and discrimination of two sibling species of the genus Mus (Mammalia, Rodentia) from Slovakia

Abstract

Abstract. Craniometric characteristics of two sibling species of the genus Mus, the indoor house mouse (Mus musculus) and the outdoor mound-building mouse (M. spicilegus), from Slovakia were compared and evaluated in order to discriminate them. Twenty-one skull and dental variables were evaluated on 107 skulls of adult house mice, M. musculus and 80 skulls of mound-building mice, M. spicilegus. The parametric unpaired t-test and discriminant function analysis showed variations in the cranial variables between the two species. We identified four dental variables (LaM1, LaM1, LM1 and LOID) suitable for the differentiation.