Data on morphometry of the Root Vole (Microtus oeconomus) from Lithuania

Abstract

Five external morphometric and 23 craniometric characters of 782 Root Vole (Microtus oeconomus) individuals trapped in N, NW, C and S Lithuania in 2001–2009 were analysed with respect to sex and age of animals. The body mass of juveniles, subadults and adults was, respectively, 6.5–27.5, 16.5–39.5 and 16.5–77.0 g, body length 52.6–105.2, 73.8–118.6 and 79.2–142.0 mm, and condylobasal skull length 19.4–27.9, 22.2–25.9 and 20.9–29.7 mm. Sexual dimorphism was characteristic mainly of adult voles. Sex-dependent differences in body and skull size were weak in subadult voles and not expressed in juveniles. On average, adult males of M. oeconomus were bigger than females. Early matured females were much smaller. The overlap of body and skull measurements in adult, subadult and juvenile voles was very high. Unmistakable assigning of voles to the age group of juveniles was correct when body mass was below 16.5 g and body length below 74 mm, while adults could unmistakably be recognized when their body mass was ove...