To a question about species status of forest-steppe marmot Marmota kastschenkoi Stroganov et Judin, 1956 (Rodentia, Sciuridae). K voprosy o vidovom statouse lesostepnogo sourka Marmota kastschenkoi Stroganov et Judin, 1956 (Rodentia, Sciuridae). [Question sur l’état spécifique de la marmotte de forêt-steppe Marmota kastschenkoi Stroganov et Judin, 1956 (Rodentia, Sciuridae)].

Résumé

The most of Palearctic marmot species are weakly differentiated on morphological and karyotypic level. For a long time alI Eurasian marmots, except Marmota camtschatica, were considered to have 2n=38. It created a set of problems in development of systematics of this group during the last century. "Bobak" group is the most discussed. Species independence of bobak marmot (M. bobak), grey or Altai marmot (M. baibacina) and Mongolian marmot (M. sibirica) forming this group was clearly proved by L.I . Galkina ( 1962a; 1962b ). Investigating questions of subspecies division of M. baibacina she has noted that its forest-steppe subspecies M. b. kastschenkoi is rather independent and its taxonomic status requires specification. Recent karyilogical investigations have revealed significant differentiatjon of forest-steppe marmot according to karyotypical characterjstics (Brandler, 1999; Brandler, 2003 ). These data became the basis for giving a species status to it (Brandler, 2003). Species independence of forest-steppe marmot is confirmed also by the new data of our investigations of its morphology, analysis of some ecological features and areal histories (Galkina, Taranenko, 2002; Taranenko, 2003a, b). The description of species Marmota kastschenkoi Stroganov et Judin, I956 is given below. The differential diagnosis. The largest of aIl modern Palearctic marmots with body length up to 660 mm and weight about 3-6.3 kg in spring and 4.6-8.9 kg in autumn (according to conversational data - up to 12 kg). Tail is rather lollg, about 30% ofbody length. The form is dark-colored, with weIl noticeable white wedge-shaped spot on chill. In contradistinction to grey marmot abdomen coloration is soft, yellow- or gray-red. The thickness of hair and a length of guard-hair (45-55 mm) exceed similar parameters of other specimens of ? bobak ? group. A skull is larger and more massive, with more developed combs and relatively narrow cheek-bones, kondilo-basallength is 94.5-107.5 mm (M= 101-12?0.45). Processus frontalis ossis praemaxillaris is rather thin. Their total width at the basis is less than 1/2 of osis nasale width in their average part. Intermediate prominence of lower P4 js well developed. Os penis is cone-shaped with a core moderately f1at on its dorsal side. The core has two widely placed blades with sharp ripples on the external side on its fore end. In karyotype 2n=36 (NF=68) one pair of metacentric is significantly larger than other elements of a set.Geographical distribution. Areal stretches from North to South from vicinities of Tomsk up to foothills of North-East Altai. East and South-East border of areal are woods of Kuznetsk Alatau and Mountain Shoriya. Distribution is limited by the river Ob in the West.