Identification of the subgenus Martes str. species (Martes zibellina, M. martes, M. foina, and M. melampus; Carnivora, Mustelidae) according to the mandibular metric characteristics

A comparative analysis involving 21 mandibular metric characteristics of Martes zibellina ( n = 114), M. martes (117), M. foina (110), and M. melampus (6) has been performed using a graphical method (scatter diagrams) and stepwise discriminant analysis. The best metric characteristics allowing for discrimination between the lower jaws of these species have been identified and used to plot scatter diagrams. The discriminant analysis has been conducted for three groups of characteristics, namely, those of the whole mandible, ramus ascendens, and corpus mandibulae. As a result, optimal statistical models based on the diagnostic characteristics have been constructed and tested. The corresponding classification functions for species identification of whole mandibles and their fragments have been calculated. These results can be used for species identification of the mandibles of M. zibellina, M. martes, M. foina , and M. melampus .