Morphological Variability of the Mandible Shape of the Common Vole Microtus arvalis (Rodentia, Arvicolidae) Semi-species from the Hybrid Zone.

The mandible shape of the common vole semi-species from the hybrid zone was studied for the first time using the methods of geometric morphometry. The hybrid specimens were found to display high morphological variability being closer to the parental Microtus obscurus than to M. arvalis form. The main trends of changes in the mandible shape were primarily observed in the horizontal plane.