Lissovsky A.A., Obolenskaya E.V., Ge D.-Y. 2025. Species identification in pikas Ochotona (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae), on the basis of variation in occlusal surface of the third lower premolar // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.24. No.1. P.22–31 [in English].
Andrey A. Lissovsky [andlis@zmmu.msu.ru], A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; Ekaterina V. Obolenskaya [obolenskaya@zmmu.msu.ru], Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, Zoological Museum, Moscow 125009, Russia; Deyan Ge [gedy@ioz.ac.cn] Key Laboratory of Animal Biodiversity Conservation and Integrated Pest Management, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
doi: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.24.1.05
ABSTRACT. Variation in the occlusal morphology of the third lower premolar tooth is examined in a sample of 369 adult pikas of all recent species. It is shown that, despite a high degree of intraspecific variation, the shape of the p3 enamel loops reflects the phylogenetic relationships of pika species. While differences between most species pairs require a special multivariate analysis, differences between pika subgenera can be verbalised and recognised visually. For the first time, dental characters have been described that allow a reliable distinction of the members of the subgenus Alienauroa.
KEY WORDS: Ochotona, Alienauroa, teeth, lower premolar, identification.