Étude caryologique et morphométrique du Mulot sylvestre (Apodemus sylvaticus : Muridae) au nord de la Tunisie

Abstract

Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus 1758) is a nocturnal rodent (Muridae), it is frequent in regions with soft and humid climate. This study takes on specimens captured in Lansarine, a region from the North of Tunisia. The Karyological study show us that the diploid number of the current population is stable in comparison with the European populations (Spain, Czech Republic), it is equal to 48 chromosomes with a fundamental number of autosomes equal to 46. The morphometric analysis, with body (T + C ; Q ; O ; PP ; Pds) (Chappelier 1927) and cranial parameters (LT ; lBC ; D ; MS ; CB) (Chimimba & Dippenaar 1995) considered, show us that our measurements integrate perfectly with the limits established by other authors in Tunisia. However, we find out some differences with other populations studied in Europe (Turkey, France), indeed our specimens looks bigger. Those differences are probably due to climat and the nature of diet.