Vol. 47 No. 4, 2008

Geographic Variation of Chevrier,s Field Mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) (Milne-Edwards, 1868) (Muridae: Murinae) from Southwestern China Based on Cranial Morphometric Variables

Song Li*, Ying-Xiang Wang, Xue-Long Jiang, and Jun-Xing Yang*

Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 32 Jiaochang East Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China

Song Li, Ying-Xiang Wang, Xue-Long Jiang, and Jun-Xing Yang (2008) A sample of 134 specimens of Apodemus chevrieri was investigated in the present study.  Individuals were divided into male and female groups, and these were respectively subjected to multivariate analysis.  Results indicated that 3 geographic populations of A. chevrieri inhabit southwestern China: a Sichuan population in western Sichuan Province; a northwestern Yunnan population ranging from northwestern Yunnan Province eastward to southern Sichuan Province; and a central Yunnan population in central Yunnan Province.  In addition, a coefficient of difference analysis was performed among these 3 geographic populations.  The results suggested that these 3 geographical populations of A. chevrieri belonged to 2 subspecies.  Furthermore, we discuss the relationships of the subspecific differentiation of A. chevrieri with changes in latitude in southwestern China.

Key words: Geographic variation, Numerical analysis, Apodemus chevrieri, Morphometry.

*Correspondence: Tel: 86-871-5136964.  E-mail:lis@mail.kiz.ac.cn; yangjx@mail.kiz.ac.cn