Population variability of body and cranial parameters of the Spalax microphthalmus Guld. (Rodentia, Spalacidae) in the conditions of the northern macroslope of the Central Caucasus

This article presents the population variability of 24 measurements of the body and skull of the mole rat in the conditions of the northern macroslope of the Central Caucasus (steppe zone and subalpine belt). To identify the intrapopulation variability of the studied parameters, a sex-based comparison was performed, no sexual dimorphism was found in both populations (t<1). The interpopulation variability of body and skull measurements also showed that there was no significant difference in almost all the parameters of the mole rat’s skull that we studied, exceptions are the length of the upper row of molars and the total length of the frontal and parietal bones. It was revealed that the most persistent craniometric characters to the conditions of existence of Spalax microphthalmus Guld. are condylobasal length of the skull, width of the tympanic bone, length of the lower row of molars, length of the upper row of molars, and length of the cerebral part.