Morphometric variation of the common shrew <i>Sorex araneus</i> in Ukraine, in relation to geoclimatic factors and karyotype
Comparisons were made of chromosomal and macro-morphological variation in two widespread chromosome races of the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 in the Ukraine using multivariate statistics. Representatives of the Kiev and Neroosa races cannot reliably be identified from craniometric characteristics. Within the two chromosome races, however, we observed a relationship between morphology and geography. About 60% of morphological variance could be explained by the influence of geoclimatic factors. It was confirmed that ecogeography is more important than karyotype as a morphological determinant in the common shrew. Highly differentiated southern Ukrainian forms of S. araneus may be regarded as ecotypes.