Variability of craniometric characters in the house mouse (Rodentia, Muridae) in relation to the altitudinal gradient in Central Caucasus

Variability of craniometric characters in the house mouse at two altitudinal levels in the Central Caucasus has been studied. The analysis of variability in cranial characters of the house mouse in the Central Caucasus has shown significant similarity in morphometric parameters in the foothill samples (samples from villages Bedyk, Zolskoe and Nalchik), and their isolation from the middle - mountain sample (sample from Elbrus village). The obtained results allow the conclusions that in the house mouse from the Central Caucasus the adaptation at the level of the cranial morfometry has occurred for fifty years, i.e. since its penetration into middle mountains.