Discriminant analysis of skull morphometric characters in Apodemus sylvaticus, A-flavicollis, and A-alpicola (Mammalia; Rodentia) from the Alps

A total of 108 Apodemus skulls from Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France and Germany was studied to determine morphological characteristics useful in i dentifying individuals as Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus, 1758), A. flavicol lis (Melchior, 1834) or A. alpicola Heinrich, 1952. The original assignment of the samples to the three species was based on molar cusp morphology, bo dy proportions, pelage coloration, and allozyme analysis. The 24 measured c ranial characters used together accurately discriminated between the three species and correctly classified 100% of the individuals to species. A step wise discriminant function analysis showed that 6 cranial characters are su fficient to differentiate between the three species, with a correct classif ication above 97%. Fisher's linear discriminant function coefficients can b e used directly for classification of unknown specimens.