Variability of nonmetric traits of musk deer Moschus moschiferus L. (Moschidae, Cetartiodactyla) craniums

Abstract

Variation in 15 phenotypic traits is investigated in 349 craniums of seven geographic populations. Differences between geographic populations are ascertained, and phenotypic peculiarities of the subspecies are determined by principal component analysis and cluster analysis using the measure of the contribution to variability of populations and of subspecies similarity. Variations in populations of the Siberian and Himalayan subspecies in nonmetric characters are established. Differences between the craniums from populations are shown to be manifested to a greater degree than between the craniums of subspecies. The analysis of nonmetric characters showed the lack of a rare phene as a diagnostic feature of the musk deer.