Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity

The Korean Society of Systematic Zoology (한국동물분류학회)
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External and Cranial Characteristics of Mustela sibirica quelpartis on Jeju Island

  • Lee, Jun Won (Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University) ;
  • Oh, Hong Shik (Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University)
  • Received : 2020.10.28
  • Accepted : 2021.07.05
  • Published : 2021.07.31
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Abstract

This study investigates the morphological and skull characteristics of the Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica quelpartis from the Jeju Island, South Korea. A total of 26 roadkill specimens (22 males and 4 females) were collected from October 2012 to April 2016. All collected specimens were examined for morphological characteristics, but only 19 specimens (16 males and 3 females) were in a good enough condition to process for skull measurements. This study showed no significant differences in ear length between male and female (p>0.05), and significant differences were found in head-body length, tail length (TL), and hind-food length (p<0.05). Both the male and female of M. s. quelpartis were larger in its external characteristics except for TL than M. s. coreanus living in the mainland of South Korea. M. s. quelpartis males have a smaller skull size than their female counterparts. In general, both male and female M. s. quelpartis showed external characteristics in line with the Island Rule. The findings of this study are important in order to shed more light on the evolutionary mechanism of small mammals living on the Jeju Island.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the 2021 education, research and student guidance grant funded by Jeju National University.

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