PAOLA SANTOS DA MATA

AUTHOR:  PAOLA SANTOS DA MATA
TITLE: CRANIOMETRIC GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN POPULATIONS OF Hylaeamys megacephalus (G. FISHER, 1814)

ADVISOR:  Prof. Dr. FABIANO CAMPOS LIMA
DEFENSE DATE: 03/11/2019

ABSTRACT

With great genetic diversity and geographical distribution, Hylaeamys megacephalus (G. Fisher, 1814) occurs both in the Amazon and in the Cerrado. Due to its general nature, this species tolerates different feeding habits and habitats, occurring in flooded areas or not, being predominantly terrestrial, allowing greater flow of genes among populations, even at long distances. It presents a wide distribution, and it
lacks studies that seek a better understanding on the morphological variations resulting from the differences imposed by the medium along its distribution. The objective of this study was to analyze the differences between populations of H. megacephalus, based on craniometry investigating whether the environment interferes with morphology. We analyzed a total of 142 specimens from mammalian scientific collections, from the National Museum - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (MN), Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ Foundation (LBCE) and Laboratory of Biodiversity, Federal University of Goiás - Jataí Regional, in which 20 craniometric measurements were taken. The craniometry was explored in the statistical analysis of grouping of unweighted pairs with arithmetic averages (UPGMA), canonical variation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results found, led us to conclude the existence of three craniometric groups of H. megacephalus species with a tendency to differentiate by geographic influences.