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Abstract <p>The range of variability of the index of differentiation of dental enamel (SDQ) was determined based on the study of dental characteristics of water voles from seven regions of Azerbaijan, captured in 1926–1965 and stored in the collection of the Institute of Zoology of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan. The index is calculated as the ratio of the thickness of the enamel walls of the dental crown, taking into account their leading and trailing roles in chewing. It serves as a criterion for identifying chronospecies of the genus <i>Arvicola</i> in the fossil record, and has recently been proposed for the diagnosis of modern Eurasian and Persian water voles. The SDQ indices in 55 individuals of water vole sampled in Shamakhi, Saatli, Imishli, Goygol (= Khanlar), Ordubad, and Adjikabul districts of Azerbaijan allow us to conclude that water voles have a plesiomorphic type of enamel differentiation, i.e., the enamel on the leading cutting walls of the cheek teeth is thinner than on the trailing walls, and the SDQ index values generally exceed 100. On the first lower and second upper teeth, the absolute values of the enamel differentiation indices vary from 100 to 178. No specimen was found with an apomorphic variant of enamel differentiation (the leading cutting walls of the cheek teeth are thickened compared to the trailing ones). Unlike the dimensional features of the teeth, the index values do not demonstrate directional changes in postnatal ontogenesis and exceed 100 in all age classes distinguished by the degree of skull maturity. The results obtained confirm both the difference in dental characteristics of water voles living in Azerbaijan from the Eurasian <i>A. amphibius</i> and its close relation to the Persian water vole <i>A. persicus</i>, considered currently as an independent species or group of species. Revision of the data on differential chromosome staining and analysis of molecular markers, both mitochondrial and nuclear, are necessary to reach a conclusion on the taxonomic status of water voles of Azerbaijan and other regions of Western Asia, inhabited by the representatives of the genus <i>Arvicola</i> with a plesiomorphic type of differentiation of the dental enamel. Until a final decision is made on the taxonomic status, composition, and distribution boundaries of the Persian water vole, it is proposed to consider the Azerbaijani water vole, which has a plesiomorphic type of differentiation of the enamel of the cheek teeth, as <i>Arvicola</i> cf. <i>persicus.</i></p>

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The Dental Enamel Differentiation Quotient of Modern Water Voles of the Genus Arvicola in Azerbaijan: Variation and Diagnostic Value

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月6日

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  • E. A. Markova,
  • L. V. Nadirli,
  • S. V. Zykov

摘要

Abstract

The range of variability of the index of differentiation of dental enamel (SDQ) was determined based on the study of dental characteristics of water voles from seven regions of Azerbaijan, captured in 1926–1965 and stored in the collection of the Institute of Zoology of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan. The index is calculated as the ratio of the thickness of the enamel walls of the dental crown, taking into account their leading and trailing roles in chewing. It serves as a criterion for identifying chronospecies of the genus Arvicola in the fossil record, and has recently been proposed for the diagnosis of modern Eurasian and Persian water voles. The SDQ indices in 55 individuals of water vole sampled in Shamakhi, Saatli, Imishli, Goygol (= Khanlar), Ordubad, and Adjikabul districts of Azerbaijan allow us to conclude that water voles have a plesiomorphic type of enamel differentiation, i.e., the enamel on the leading cutting walls of the cheek teeth is thinner than on the trailing walls, and the SDQ index values generally exceed 100. On the first lower and second upper teeth, the absolute values of the enamel differentiation indices vary from 100 to 178. No specimen was found with an apomorphic variant of enamel differentiation (the leading cutting walls of the cheek teeth are thickened compared to the trailing ones). Unlike the dimensional features of the teeth, the index values do not demonstrate directional changes in postnatal ontogenesis and exceed 100 in all age classes distinguished by the degree of skull maturity. The results obtained confirm both the difference in dental characteristics of water voles living in Azerbaijan from the Eurasian A. amphibius and its close relation to the Persian water vole A. persicus, considered currently as an independent species or group of species. Revision of the data on differential chromosome staining and analysis of molecular markers, both mitochondrial and nuclear, are necessary to reach a conclusion on the taxonomic status of water voles of Azerbaijan and other regions of Western Asia, inhabited by the representatives of the genus Arvicola with a plesiomorphic type of differentiation of the dental enamel. Until a final decision is made on the taxonomic status, composition, and distribution boundaries of the Persian water vole, it is proposed to consider the Azerbaijani water vole, which has a plesiomorphic type of differentiation of the enamel of the cheek teeth, as Arvicola cf. persicus.