Intraspecific divergence of the black-capped marmot Marmota camtschatica (Sciuridae, Marmotinae)

Morphological and immunogenetic specific features of M. camtschatica were s tudied. The more significant differences in metric and nonmetric characters of skull were found in Kamchatka and Barguzin subspecies due to their para meters do not overlap. Marmots of Yakutian subspecies occupy an intermediat e position between the aforementioned species, but they are also nonuniform . Immunogenetic tests revealed distinct differences between all three M. ca mtschatica subspecies as well as between two geographical marmot forms from Yakutia. The black-capped marmots appear to belong to species in statu nas cendi, whose situation is close to the phe nomenon of Rassenkreise ranges o f animals. The black-capped marmots are most likely to be considered as a " Marmota camtschatica" superspecies.