Morphometric variation between karyological categories of the common shrew [Sorex araneus] in the Legucki Mlyn-Popielno hybrid zone

Morphometric variation of the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 was studied in the Łęgucki Młyn/Popielno hybrid zone in north-eastern Poland. The shrews of both races and their hybrids were measured. Seventeen cranial and external measurements in 105 young shrews were analysed. Based on the results of canonical analysis and multidimensional scaling we propose a hypothesis on morphometric differences between hybrids and non-hybrids. They may involve three skull parameters: length of the upper and lower dental series, and the length of the upper row of molariform teeth.