Identification of shrews and rodents from skull remains according to the length of a tooth row

• Main Authors: Balčiauskienė, Laima, Juškaitis, Rimvydas, Mažeikytė, Janina Reda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Lithuanian; English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: Small mammals; Length of a tooth row; Identification; Microtus arvalis
• Online Access: http://lmavb.lvb.lt/LMAVB:ELABAPDB5150609&prefLang=en_US

In the article, measurements of lengths of maxillary and mandibular tooth rows in three species of shrews (Sorex araneus, S. minutus, Neomys fodiens) found in Lithuania, the birch mouse (Sicista betulina), six species of mice (Mus musculus, Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, A. uralensis, Micromys minutus), and three species of voles (Microtus arvalis, M. oeconomus, M. ag­res­tis) are presented and suitability of these measurements for species identification given. It has been established that according to these measurements species of shrews can be identified unmistakably. Species of mice and voles could be identified with reservation. Intervals are presented within the ranges of which species of mice and voles could be identified. The method is useful while working with incomplete skulls, such as those found in owl and birds of prey pellets. While using data from mammal identification keys and from other literature sources of foreign countries for identification of mammals of Lithuania, possible geographical differences should be taken into account.