Lissovsky A.A., Obolenskaya E.V., Abramson N.I., Dokuchaev N.E., Yakimenko V.V., Mal’kova M.G., Bogdanov A.S., Ivanova N.V. 2011. Geographic variation of Microtus middendorffii (Cricetidae, Arvicolinae, Rodentia) sensu lato studied by craniometrical and mitochondrial features // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.9 (for 2010). No.2: 71–81 [in English].
Andrey A. Lissovsky [andlis@zmmu.msu.ru] and Ekaterina V. Obolenskaya [obolenskaya@zmmu.msu.ru], Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, Bolshaya Nikitskaya 6, Moscow 125009, Russia;
Natalia I. Abramson [lemmus@zin.ru], Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya nab. 1, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia;
Nikolai E. Dokuchaev [dokuchaev@ibpn.kolyma.ru], Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Portovaya 18, Magadan 685000, Russia;
Valeriy V. Yakimenko [vyakimenko78@yandex.ru] and Marina G. Mal’kova, Omsk scientific-research institute of naturel-foci infections, Mira prospekt 7, Omsk 644080, Russia;
Alexey S. Bogdanov [bogdalst@yahoo.com], Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Vavilova 26, Moscow 119991, Russia;
Natalia V. Ivanova [nivanova@uoguelph.ca], Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
KEY WORDS: Microtus middendorffii, Microtus hyperboreus, Microtus gromovi, geographic variation.
ABSTRACT. Morphometric variation of voles Microtus middendorffii sensu lato and M. gromovi was examined based on 221 skulls. Molecular variation was assessed on partial sequences of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene (657 bp) from 23 individuals of M. middendorffii s.l. The observed pattern of variation within M. middendorffii s.l. corresponds to polytypic species comprising a number of geographic races. The taxonomic rank of the Ural and Yamal race (M. m. ryphaeus) is not lower than the rank of M. m. middendorffii and M. m. hyperboreus. Essential morphological differences within the scope of this study were found for the sample from the Kochechum River. The voles of M. gromovi are very similar morphologically to M. middendorffii. Taxa M. middendorffii, M. gromovi, and M. mongolicus form the single clade on the mitochondrial based tree, with M. gromovi as a basal taxon.