Distribution and variation of mice of the Sylvaemus microps & uralensis group in Eastern Europe: fragmentation and clines

The species names Sylvaemus microps and Sylvaemus uralensis are markers of the two key stages in the recognition of the taxonomic heterogeneity of Sylvaemus sylvaticus (s. str.), to which they have long been included. The first was described in 1952 from Central Europe, while the second 140 years earlier (1818) from the Southern Urals. Both taxa have undergone a complicated taxonomic history and are now considered conspecific. However, there are some gaps between them, in particular geographic ones. They are considered here as two groups of populations: a western (microps) and an eastern (uralensis). The taxonomic history of wood mice of the group Apodemus microps & Sylvaemus uralensis and the history of increase in knowledge on their distribution are considered. An analysis of geographic variability of key diagnostic characters of the species was carried out, which revealed a quite well-expressed morphological homogeneity. Within the Western Palearctic populations, there is a clear clinal variation from relatively large southern and eastern to small northern and western forms. Geographic range analysis shows the presence of several relatively isolated fragments of the range, including a clear gap between the western forms of the microps group (Central Europe, the Balkans, and the Western Carpathians region) and the eastern forms of the uralensis group (from the Dnipro region and Baltic states to the Urals, including the Caucasus and Asia Minor). Proposals to recognise the specific level of differentiation between the northern and southern forms seem far too hypothetical, as well as the idea to assign the Caucasian form (ciscaucasicus) to the Central European microps and the Crimean form (baessleri) to the Upper Volga mosquensis. In general, the available data indicate differences between the western and eastern forms of Sylvaemus uralensis. Detailed information on marginal records of the two groups of populations is given, including the easternmost (essentially north-eastern) findings of the microps group and the westernmost findings of the uralensis group. There is a significant geographic gap between these two forms covering the entire area of Volyn, Podillia, Western and Central Polissia, but narrowing to the south, towards the Black Sea. Connection between the two range fragments may exist in the south, but the available and verified data essentially show a gap across the interfluve between the Dnister and Tyligul rivers.

List of mammals of Ukraine 2020: additions and clarifications

General issues of "taxonomic monitoring" of the mammal fauna of Ukraine are considered, including current changes and clarifications on the species composition of fauna, taxonomic ranks of species and superspecies groups, and current scientific and vernacular (Ukrainian) names. Analytical references and comments on the ranks and names of 24 taxa or taxonomic groups are presented, including 6 on Glires non-Muroidae, 7 on Muroidae, 5 on Chiroptera, 2 on Carnivora, and 4 on Ungulata. Most of the changes concern taxa ranks (especially genus / subgenus or family / subfamily) and, to a lesser extent, scientific and Ukrainian names. All changes are analysed as an update to the checklist approved by the Ukrainian Theriological Society (UTS) and published in 2012 in the Proceedings of the NMNH. In particular, this publication recognises the species status and correct use of scientific species names of Spalax graecus, Spalax arenarius, Apodemus (Sylvaemus) tauricus, and Myotis aurascens, as well as the Ukrainian vernacular names “hipsuh” (for Hypsugo) and “saiga” (for Saiga), scientific generic names Myodes (Ukr. “norytsia”) and Alexandromys (Ukr. “shaparka”), the family rank of long-winged bats (Miniopteridae), and the scientific name Cricetulus migratorius for the grey hamster as valid. The following provisions are adopted based on recent publications and trends in the development of classifications: 1) a new understanding of the volume and species name of Spermophilus planicola (little souslik) and Pipistrellus lepidus (Kuhl's pipistrelle); confirmation of the family status of birch mice, but with a new scientific name Sminthidae; correctness of scientific names Neogale vison (American mink) and Ovis gmelini (mouflon); 2) clarification of the Ukrainian vernacular name “molossovi” for Molossidae; 3) the genus coypu (Myocastor) is considered within the family of spiny rats (Echimyidae), whereas genera of voles (Microtus), red-backed voles (Myodes) and water voles (Arvicola) within the family of hamsters (Cricetidae); 4) lowering the ranks of several taxa, in particular Arvicolidae to subfamily Arvicolinae (within the family Cricetidae), Allactagidae to subfamily Allactaginae (within the family Dipodidae), Terricola to subgenus within the genus Microtus (s. l.), Bison to subgenus within the genus Bos (hence the bison is Bos bonasus), 5) the genus Sylvaemus is preserved at the same rank as the genus Apodemus. Trends in further changes of checklists and the need to align them with basic checklists and to adapt "thematic" lists, such as "red lists" for national or regional levels, game fauna lists, species lists in annexes to various international agreements (e.g. SITES), Bern Convention, EUROBATs, etc.) are considered.

Genetic Differentiation of the Steppe Field Mouse Sylvaemus witherbyi Populations: The Results of the Mitochondrial DNA Control Region Analysis

The degree of genetic diversity of the steppe field mouse was estimated on the basis of the mtDNA control region variability data. Polymorphism of this mtDNA marker in S. witherbyi was more pronounced than previously assumed. The steppe field mouse population from the northern shore of Lake Manych-Gudilo includes several mitochondrial lines, which may be due to the existence of several migration flows to this area from Southwest Asia.