Differentiation of Subspecies of Tamiops mcclellandi (Horsfield, 1840) (Sciuridae，Rodentia) in Southwestern China

Tamiops mcclellandi is a species endemic to southeastern Asia. We obtained data on 15 cranial characteristics from three currently recognized subspecies of T. mcclellandi that used to be classified by pelage characteristics in China (T. m. mcclellandi,Tmm;T. m. collinus,Tmc;T. m. inconstans,Tmi) and which are distributed in southeastern Tibet, and in the south and southwest of Yunnan). We analyzed the data with SPSS 11.0 (Multivariate Analysis) in order to examine whether significant differences exist in cranial characteristics among three subspecies, to evaluate their subspecies validities, and to examine relationships among them. The results indicate: 1. The three groups are all valid subspecies. 2. Among 15 cranial characteristics, eight characteristics (ONL, ROB, ZOB, IOB, MTB, BN, MDL, HM) between Tmm and Tmc were significantly different; seven characteristics (GLS,ONL, ZOB, IOB, MTB, MH, HM) between Tmm and Tmi were significantly different; and four characteristics (ROB, MTB, BN, MH) between Tmc and Tmi were significantly different. 3. Relationships between Tmc and Tmi are closer than those between each of the two subspecies and Tmm.