 Zagorodniuk, I., Korobchenko, M., Kirichenko, V. Mole-rats Nannospalax leucodon and Spalax zemni in Ukraine: identification criteria and border between their ranges. Proceedings of the Theriological School. 2017. Vol. 15: 97–104.
title |
Mole-rats Nannospalax leucodon and Spalax zemni in Ukraine: identification criteria and border between their ranges |
author(s) |
Zagorodniuk, I., Korobchenko, M., Kirichenko, V. |
affiliation |
National Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine)
State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service in Mykolaiv Oblast (Mykolaiv, Ukraine)
|
bibliography |
Proceedings of the Theriological School. 2017. Vol. 15: 97–104. |
DOI |
http://doi.org/10.15407/ptt2017.15.097 |
| |
|
language |
English, with Ukrainian extended summary, titles of tables, captures to figs, and references |
abstract |
The differences between two mole-rat species are shown according to the complex of exterior and cranial characters, each of which is reliable in species diagnostics. In particular, they include the color of rhinarium, shape of the rostrum, development of lateral occipital apertures and pharyngeal tubules, also the flexion of the base of the skull, and expressiveness of the intercrestal fossa in the mandible. A number of collection materials were re-identified, which significantly changed the views on geographical ranges of these species. The boundary between species should be considered substantially shifted to the west: the Bug–Tylihul interriver area is inhabited not by N. leucodon, as it was believed so far, but by S. zemni. It is confirmed by both old specimens (1930–1950s) and modern materials (2010–2016), thus it is not associated with habitat changes. At the same time, monitoring of the dynamics of settlements of these species shows significant changes in the scope of inhabited areas, as well as recent colonization of the most part of the region from coastal refugia.
|
keywords |
Nannospalax leucodon, Spalax zemni, cranial characters, distribution, ranges. |
| |
|
references |
Filipchuk, N. S., Yangolenko, E. I. 1986. Recent distribution, population and ecological peculiarities of the lesser mole rat in the Ukraine. Vestnik zoologii, No. 1: 55–59. (In Ukrainian)
Korobchenko, M., Zagorodniuk, I. 2009. Taxonomy and levels of differentiation in mole-rats (Spalacidae) of the fauna of Ukraine and adjacent countries. Scientific Bulletin of the Uzhgorod Univ. Series Biology, 26: 13–26. (In Ukrainian)
Korobchenko, M. 2012. Variability and diagnostic value of cranial characters of Spalax microphthalmus: comparison with other Spalacidae species from Eastern Europe. Proceedings of the Theriological School, 11: 63–70. (In Ukrainian)
Korobchenko, M. 2012. External features of mole-rats as criteria for species identification in field. State and Biodiversity of Ecosystems of the Shatsk National Nature Park. SPOLOM Press, Lviv, 32–33. (In Ukrainian)
Korobchenko, M. 2014. Burrowing rodents (Rodentia, Spalacidae et Ellobiusini) in zoological collections of Ukraine. Proceedings of the Zoological Museum, 45: 70–78. (In Ukrainian)
Korobchenko, M., Zagorodniuk, I. 2016. Mole-rat from Khortytsia in the light of morphological and geographical relations between Spalax zemni and S. microphthalmus. Proceedings of the Theriological School, 14: 85–94. https://doi.org/10.15407/ptt2016.14.085
Myhulin, O. O. 1938. Mammals of the Ukrainian RSR (Materials to Fauna). Acad. Sci. of UkrSSR, Kyiv, 1–426. (In Ukrainian)
Pidoplichko, I. G. 1936. New data against the theory about hindrance of the Dnipro river. Quaternary Period (Kyiv), 11: 75–83. (In Ukrainian)
Reshetnyk, E. 1941. Materials to study of systematics, geographic distribution and ecology of mole-rats (Spalacinae) in the Ukrainian RSR. Proceedings of the Zoological Museum (Kyiv), 24: 23–95. (In Ukrainian)
Rusev, I., Zakusylo, V., Tverezovsky, M. et al. 2014. Small mammals of native steppe of the Shyrokolanivskyi military training ground. Visnyk of the Lviv University. Series Biology, 65: 210–218. (In Ukrainian)
Topachevsky, V. A. 1969. Mole-Rats (Spalacidae). Nauka Press, Leningrad, 1–248. (Fauna USSR; Vol. 3; Is. 3). (In Ukrainian)
Tsemsh, I. O. 1941. To the question about significance of the Dnipro river as a zoogeographical border. Acta Musei Zoologici. Volume 1. Kyiv Univ. Press, Kyiv, 307–311. (In Ukrainian)
Yangolenko, K. I. 1966. Bukovina mole-rat from the right-bank of the Prut river, its range and morphological features. Reports of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, No. 7: 965–966. (In Ukrainian)
Zagorodniuk, I. V. 1999. Steppe fauna core of Eastern Europe: its structure and prospects of protection. Reports of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, No. 5: 203–210. (In Ukrainian) |
|
