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Study aim: The aim of the study was to perform an anthropometric analysis of children of the minority population of younger school age from eastern Slovakia. Material and methods: The main aim of the study was to perform an anthropometric analysis of 6–10-year-old Romany children at primary schools in eastern Slovakia. In the study, we evaluated twenty measured anthropometric parameters in a group that consisted of 150 children (59 boys and 91 girls). Results: We compared the differences between the sexes and evaluated the body size effect between sexes. We found that in most of the measured parameters, the boys had higher average values. Conclusions: Our results confirmed differences in size for most somatic characteristics in the minority Slovak population. However, in order to confirm the findings, it will be necessary in future to evaluate a larger sample of children from Slovakia.

In study are presented data of the insectivores (Eulipotyphla from three families, i.e., Erinaceidae, Soricidae and Talpidae) specimens deposited in the collection of the Šariš Museum in Bardejov (SMB), Slovakia. In total, data of 469 individuals from twenty-eight sites of eastern Slovakia were evaluated. This collection includes individuals collected in various places and times mainly from northeastern Slovakia. Individuals were acquired in 1956–1982, but mainly in 1956 (n = 150, 31.9%) and 1979 (n = 107, 22.8%). Moreover, one specimen of the Miller’s water shrew (Neomys anomalus) had signs of „melanism“, i.e., the dorsal side (back) was velvety black and a ventral (abdominal) side was the gray-black with a touch of silver.

Associations of insects that live in nests and burrows of small mammals are relatively poorly explored. This work therefore tries to expand the knowledge about Diptera communities (Psychodidae and Sphaeroceridae) of two small mammals, namely Micromys minutus (Pallas, 1771) and Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758). In nests of Eurasian harvest mouse two psychodid species and one sphaerocerid species, while in hazel dormouse nest one psychodid species and three sphaerocerid species have been found, all representing new nest records.

The author states the occurrence of harvest mouse (Micromys minutus (Pallas, 1771)) and hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758)) in the East Slovakia based on summer nests from field margins, hedgerows, and woodland edges. A total of 791 (551 M. minutus and 240 M. avellanarius) nests from 71 localities were observed over the years 2013–2021. The total elevation range of these sites was between 110 – 560 m a.s.l., with different ratio recorded for both species. For M. minutus 15 plant species and for M. avellanarius 16 plant species were confirmed, with different dominance of their use. A statistically significant difference was confirmed by Mann-Whitney U test comparing both species for two common plants i.e., Prunus spinosa L. (U = 866.0, p = 0.012) and Rubus plicatus Weihe & Nees (U = 1103.0, p ˂ 0.0001). Moreover, Spearman’s correlations confirmed significant relationships between the positions of nests and plant height. At the same time, 12 individuals of M. minutus and 8 individuals of M. avellanarius were confirmed dead or escaping directly from their nests. Analysis of the composition of the leaves in the M. avellanarius nests showed the following proportions. Leaves of the three species R. plicatus (66.2%), Carpinus betulus L. (14.5%), and P. spinosa (8.3%) were most common in mixed nests. For foliar nests, a ratio of two dominant species, R. plicatus (50.0%) and C. betulus (41.6%), was recorded. Finally, for the layered nests, a ratio of two dominant species, R. plicatus (50.0%) and C. betulus (33.3%) was recorded. The obtained data help spreading knowledge of both species in the territory of Slovakia.

Sexual differences in the wildcat were evaluated on 15 variables in 49 pelvic and 38 sacral bones in wildcat from the Western Carpathians. Our data confirmed a male-biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in the pelvic and sacral bones. The effect size was very large for two pelvic (SB, smallest width of the shaft of the ilium; and LAR, length of the acetabulum) and two sacral traits (GB, greatest width across the wings; and BFcr, greatest width of the cranial articular surface). Our different allometric patterns in pelvic and sacral measures in both sexes may also be important in mode of locomotion. These findings highlight the need for morphometric analysis of species at the regional as well global level.

In this study was quantified bacular size, variation, and allometry in mound-building mice (Mus spicilegus) from the western Carpathians (Slovakia). The study presents the first knowledge of morphological variation in three baculum traits based on the analysis of 11 adult and 60 subadult males. According to descriptive statistics, bacula are variable in size. Despite the small number of adult individuals, the Mann-Whitney test indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in proportions between age groups. However, to confirm these results, larger numbers of adults and subadults will need to be tested in the future.

In this paper are presented two cases of abnormal colouration individuals of Mus spicilegus from northern border of the species’ range. The individuals were caught during long-term research (from 2002 to 2021) of species in autumn-winter seasons in field biotopes on south-eastern Slovakia. The first individual captured on December 2, 2004, was subadult male. The second individual captured on November 11, 2020, was subadult female. Determination by morphological traits and subsequent dissection confirmed that both trapped mice were subadults. According to the findings, the observed individuals meet the criterion of flavism. The dorsal fur was yellow (or beige); the auricle, feet, and tail were light; and coloration on the belly was white. This finding is important not only in terms of colour anomalies, but also in terms of genetics.

The results of a craniometric analysis of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) were evaluated in this study. Twenty cranial variables were measured and evaluated on 149 skulls (78 males, 71 females) with respect to sex and age. The main aim of this study was to test the sexual dimorphism in skull size. Overall, our results showed that on average, the values for adult and subadult females of M. glareolus were higher than for males. Results presented here thus reveal sexual differences in the measured cranial traits, most expressed for the length of the mandible and the height of the mandible. The effect size was very large for the length of the first upper molar. Comparison of our results with those from other countries confirmed that there are regional differences. These findings highlight the need for craniometric analysis of species also at the regional level.

The sibling species Colias croceus and Colias erate show significant intraspecific variability, presumably resulting from frequent hybridization. For this reason, some specimens are not clearly identifiable. The yellow forms of males and the white forms of females are particularly problematic in terms of their identification. In this study, we investigated the reliability of external features for effective identification of this species pair using geometric morphometrics. The study specimens were tentatively identified to the species level based on genital characteristics and several genetic markers. Geometric morphometric analyses were focused on the variability of wings and male genital valvae of Slovak butterfly populations. The morphometric analysis of valvae enabled identification of most of the specimens, whereas based on the putatively diagnostic features of forewings and hindwings, several butterflies were incorrectly assigned to a species. Contrary to earlier observations, we observed that androconial scales are also present in some forms of C. erate.

The study presents results of colour preference of insects (Insecta), mainly from the order Hymenoptera (families Apidae, Formicidae). The research was carried out in the vicinity of the Beniakovce village (near the Košice city) over the years 2010–2012. Trapping by coloured water traps was conducted at ten sites with 50 Moerick′s water traps coloured with five different colours (white, yellow, blue, purple, and red). On the study area there were 12 357 individuals captured, belonging to 17 higher taxa (class, order, suborder) or genus morpho group of families Apidae and Formicidae. The highest abundance was found in Diptera followed by Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. Obtained results were in accordance with literature data, which showed that yellow colour was the most preferred by insects. Our results confirmed high degree of diversity of insect’s fauna in the study area. Our study suggested that a modified Moerick′s water traps may be a valuable tool in studies on insect diversity, distribution, seasonal abundance, and foraging behaviour as well.

The results of a morphometric analysis of the common vole, Microtus arvalis, were evaluated in this study. Twenty cranial variables were measured and evaluated on 105 skulls (34 males, 71 females) with respect to sex. The main aim of this study was to analyse the presence of sexual dimorphism on skull morphological variation. We showed that values for adult females of M. arvalis were higher than for males. Therefore, the results presented here reveal sexual differences in the measured cranial traits most expressed for the length of the mandible, the length of the lower molar row measured in alveoli and the thickness of the incisor.

Along with the rising population of wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) in Slovakia, a higher rate of exposition to Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) was noted. The high density of animals is one of the main influencing factors of ADV persistence. Wild boar tissue samples were obtained by local hunters from different locations of Central and Eastern Slovakia. In total, muscle tissue samples from 139 individual wild boars were collected. Muscle fluid was obtained from these samples and subjected to serological analysis; a commercial ADV Ab-ELISA kit was used. In total, 53 samples were proved to be seropositive; out of these 19 samples of piglets, 13 samples of juveniles and 21 samples of adults. Out of 139 samples tested by ELISA, 53 were seropositive, which represents 38.12 % of positive samples. No significant difference was found between the two sexes; however, piglets have shown to have a significantly higher occurrence compared to adults. Our study confirmed the presence of ADV antibodies in the wild boar population in central and eastern Slovakia.

The Natural History Department of the Šariš Museum, Bardejov, Slovakia, was established in 1956 by PhMr. Tibor Weisz. The mammal collection consists of more than 5 000 specimens of 67 mammal species of the Slovakian fauna. The museum mostly represents the fauna of north-eastern Slovakia, i.e. the transition area between the Eastern and Western Carpathians and adjacent to the northernmost part of the Pannonian Basin. In the paper, data are presented on hare and rabbit specimens deposited in the collection of the Šariš Museum in Bardejov (SMB), Slovakia. In total, data were evaluated on 27 specimens of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) from twelve sites of Slovakia (n = 19), one site of Czech Silesia (n = 1), and from unknow localities (n = 7). Individuals were acquired in 1958–1971, but mainly in 1965–1966 (n = 19, 70.4 %). Among them, one specimen had signs of „albinism“ and was collected from Zlaté village. The collection also includes a skull of a brown hare with anomalous dentition. Similarly, two skulls of the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) obtained from the Danish preparator N. H. Gustaffson were evaluated. Three rabit specimens were also found in the collection, including two skulls of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and a skin-mount and skull of a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus forma domestica). The collection contains 20 adult specimens (15 males and 5 females) with body size values recorded in the protocol cards. Mammalogical collections in the Šariš Museum in Bardejov represent an outstanding scientific time capsule. All stored specimens in this particular and other similar collections, including those in local museums, will largely be needed and used as datasets by ecologists and conservationists in the future. It is necesary to preserve the collections, to computerise and digitise their inventories and the wealth of information they represent. At present, most of these data are not accessible electronically or online. Therefore, such collections, including that in Bardejov, must be sustained for a long term, which will require increased funding for their physical and scientific preservation.

Rain pools (pluviotelmata or puddles) are common, small and non-permanent aquatic ecosystems. Data on the use of rain pools by amphibian taxa in the Carpathian Mountains, especially in Slovakia, are rare. In this study we describe the occurrence of Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758), which may use these small aquatic ecosystems as part of their complex life cycle or where they spend their larval period. The most important hydroperiodic factors affecting the vertebrate fauna were the volume and area of the rain pools, the presence (respectively the absence) of shade, water temperature, biotope structure and the presence of several chemical compounds (NO− 3, GH, KH, pH). This study confirms that micro-habitats, such as rain pools, may play an important role for suitable reproduction sites of B. variegata, as stated by several authors from the different countries and regions of its large distributional range. At the same time, data on the presence or absence of different taxa with important conservation status in the monitored habitat aid in the detection of species.

Overweight and obesity in childhood and young people represent a large global health problem. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity by body mass index (BMI) and its associated lifestyle factors among university students in Slovakia. The BMI index was examined in relation to nine life factors for both sexes, respectively, in a sample of 200 (108 men and 92 women) young university students from Slovakia. The data were obtained using anthropometric measurements and by means of a questionnaire. The results for BMI values confirmed that both sexes were classified into the “about right” weight category. Analysis of the BMI values and questionnaire data showed different results for both sexes. While the type of daily activity and type of physical activity were associated with greater obesity for men, in women, tobacco intake was an important.

Patterns of body size variation along geographical gradients have long been searched for and generalized into eco-geographical rules. However, no rodent species has yet been analyzed in relation to the 3 dimensions of latitude, longitude and altitude. We analyzed geographical clines and dimorphism of body and skull size in the herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis) across the species range, based on field data and on data from the literature. Sexual dimorphism in adult A. uralensis was not expressed at a large scale, while local patterns were inconsistent. Age-dependent size changes were most expressed in adult individuals: most characters of adults exceeded in size those of subadults, while subadult-juvenile size differences were only significant in body weight and length, zygomatic skull width, length of cranial diastema and breadth of braincase. Despite central morphological niches along the clines being separated, A. uralensis populations showed a high degree of size overlap in morphological space. We found the species to be characterized by high size variability, with the largest individuals inhabiting the eastern and southern edges of the distribution range. Tail, hind foot and ear lengths were largest in the southern part of the range, in agreement with Allen's rule. The main measurements that we analyzed, namely body mass, zygomatic skull width and condylobasal skull length, show the presence of 3 clines in the size of adult A. uralensis: (i) a decreasing south-north cline, opposing Bergmann's rule; (ii) an increasing west-east cline, in accordance with Murphy's rule; and (iii) an increasing altitudinal cline.

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) of the wolf and the lynx was evaluated for 15 pelvic and sacral variables in 48 specimens from the Western Carpathians. Our data confirmed small male-biased SSD in the pelvic and sacral bones for both species. We suggest that this can be explained by the need for a compromise between requirements for locomotion and giving birth. We also confirmed that significant differences exist between the species in the size of the pelvic and sacral bones. We discuss our findings in light of the species' different life histories.

Outdoor species Mus spicilegus Petenyi, 1882 were trapped in 2004–2006 on fields of eastern Slovakia in vicinity of village Kechnec (48°33′7.2′′ N, 21°14′25.0′′ E; 200 m a.s.l.). Spring-summer population demography and reproductive aspects (in period March – June) were analyzed in this study. Totally, 51 individuals of the outdoor mound-building mice were trapped. The sex ratio was in favor of males (χ2 = 1.96, df = 1, p > 0.05). Prevalence of adult mice was significantly higher than of subadults, and it was noticeable in males (χ2 = 9.75, df = 1, p

Second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is sexually dimorphic, however, the hypothesis claiming that masculine digit ratio in women is connected with masculine phenotype is not fully confirmed. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in anthropometric parameters in women in relation to the digit ratio value. Cross-sectional research was conducted among 730 Polish female university students, aged 19-25 years. Anthropometric measurements were performed and data about socioeconomic status were collected. The results showed no statistically significant relationships between both right- or left-hand 2D:4D digit ratio and body height and BMI either in univariate linear regressions or in multivariate regression when SES was included in the models. The correlation between right-hand 2D:4D digit ratio and WHR also was not statistically significant. There were significant linear negative relationships between left 2D:4D and WHR. The significant linear negative relationships between both right and left 2D:4D and waist circumference and WHtR were found. Relationships between digit ratio and WC and WHtR were also tested by multiple regression analyses with SES included in the models. The results were statistically significant. Additionally, statistically significant differences in both right- and left digit ratios depending of the categories of waist circumference and WHtR were found. The lowest values of digit ratio were presented by the women with abdominal obesity. The results suggest that low values of digit ratio in women are associated with higher abdominal fat accumulation.

Searching for specific antibodies in bird serum could reveal arbovirus activity in certain localities. To date, no systematic surveillance for arbovirus infection in autochthonous population of wild birds has been conducted in Slovakia. Present study includes birds captured on spring migration and birds of the autochthonous nesting population of the Drienovska wetland (Slovakia). Serum samples were tested for West Nile virus (WNV), Usutu virus (USUV), Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Tribec virus (TRBV) neutralizing antibodies (NAb). Blood samples were collected during 2017 spring migration (March – April) and from local breeders and hatched juveniles (May – July) caught by Constant Effort site ringing method. Specific NAb were detected by micro-titration virus neutralization test. WNV NAb were detected in 11.7% (18/153) of sampled birds. Ten WNV seropositive were migrants (Eurasian Robins, Eurasian Blackcap and a Great Tit), 5 were nesting adults (Song Thrush, White Throat, Eurasian Jay, Hawfinch and Eurasian Blackbird) and 3 were juveniles (Song Thrush, Common Starling and a Great Tit). There was not confirmed USUV infection in any of the examined birds. TBEV NAb were detected during breeding season in the adult Eurasian Blackcap, which means 1.1% (1/93) seropositivity. TRBV NAb was detected in 7.4% (5/68) of adult birds (Eurasian Blackbirds and a Common Starling) and in one juvenile Great Tit, which had also WNV Nab as well. These results suggest active transmission of at least two arboviruses in the autochthonous avifauna in Slovakia.

Great genital variation occurs across animal species, likely reflecting the operation of sexual selection. We quantified bacular, testicular, and vesicular size, variation, and allometry in house mice (Laurentii in: Mus musculus Linnaeus, Systema naturae 10th ed, Salvii, Stockholm, 1758) from the western Carpathians (Slovakia). We investigated whether baculum size is related to size of reproductive organs (testicular length and width, and vesicular length), and with body size (head-and-body length), which is not directly involved in reproduction. The corrected coefficient of variation (CV’) for all bacular, testicular, and vesicular traits was significantly higher than non-sexual somatic traits. The negative allometry and weak relationship between baculum size and head-and-body length obtained in presented study (OLS regression) suggest that the Mus musculus baculum is under stabilizing selection. We also assumed that penile width as related to bacular thickness could be a reliable indicator of quality during copulation.

To describe variations in overwintering mounds and nest sizes of the mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus), mounds were measured and excavated in 16 locations in south-eastern and south-western Slovakia in autumn and/or winter between 2002 and 2011. The study was carried out in fields where crops had been harvested before the investigations. All evaluated mounds were located in agroecosystems with sunflower, maize and wheat crops as well as on field margins. Comparisons were made by basis of their dimensions (length, width, height, volume, nest depth) and the plant material collected. Data between the sampling groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Spearman’s correlation (rs) was used to examine the relation between mound and nest size (dependent variables) and four independent variables (season, geomorphological, soil and field types). We found habitat and soil-related variation in mound size which also diminished by season. Mounds vary in size among geographical populations, i.e. mounds from south-eastern Slovakia (basin and lowland) had larger dimensions than those from south-western Slovakia (upland). In contrast, we didn’t confirm a correlation between the sizes of the mounds and the nests.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis. It affects humans and several wild and domesticated mammals, including horses. The aim of our study was a preliminary survey of the occurrence of these re-emerging pathogens in horses in Slovakia. The sera from 200 animals of different ages and both sexes were tested for the presence of A. phagocytophilum antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Subsequently, detection of the 16S rRNA gene fragment of A. phagocytophilum was attempted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in each blood sample. Our results confirmed the presence of specific antibodies in 85 out of 200 individuals (42.5%), but no significant changes were found between the animals of different ages and sexes. However, the PCR analysis did not detect any positive animals. Our data represent one of the highest values of seropositivity to A. phagocytophilum in horses in Central Europe. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the circulation of A. phagocytophilum in this region, thus indicating a potential risk to other susceptible species.

Body and testes size can significantly affect male reproductive success under pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection. Testicular relative mass and/or volume are often used as a characteristic of sperm competitive ability in a comparison of phylogenetically close mammal species. Mus spicilegus males have the largest testes relative to body mass of any Mus species, which is often an indicator of high sperm competition. These findings suggest that these mound-building mice are probably not strictly monogamous. Here, we show the quantitative characteristics of testicular size, variation, and allometry of two sibling species with a different social and mating system, the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the mound-building mouse (M. spicilegus) from the Western Carpathian (Slovakia). We investigated whether testicular size (testicular length/width) was correlated with the head-and-body length and body weight, which are not involved in reproduction. Our results confirmed higher testicular values in M. spicilegus than in M. musculus. Similarly, the high phenotypic variance and positive allometry in testicular growth confirmed the suggestion that males with larger testes and a higher production of testosterone may be more competitive and more successful in post-copulatory selection.

A collection of exotic birds deposited in the Šariš Museum in Bardejov (SMB), Slovakia, has not been evaluated critically since their deposition. We assessed the accuracy of identification of 465 bird specimens deposited in SMB with native distributions outside of Slovakia. Specimens belonged to 322 species of 82 families and 26 orders. Of the specimen represented, 34 belonged to species considered as ‘near-threatened’ (7.3%), 16 as ‘vulnerable’ (3.4%) and one as ‘endangered’ (0.2%). The SMB collection holds 10 of 28 extant Cuban endemic species and another 11 species endemic to the Caribbean archipelago. Even among birds that are relatively easy to identify, many specimens were identified incorrectly or species identification was missing. Of 465 specimens evaluated, 95 (20.4%) were identified incorrectly or were missing species identification, and another 79 (17%) were identified correctly, but their names have changed over time due to taxonomic shift, thus they required correction.

In this study we investigated allometry and variation in the baculum of the stoat Mustela erminea and compared it with head-and-body length not involved in reproduction. The stoat is a species with pre-copulatory selection (manifested by the high degree of male-biased sexual size dimorphism) therefore we predicted that baculum allometry may be isometric or exhibited negative allometry. We also test the hypothesis that the baculum size is positively correlated with adult body size and may be used as a reliable indicator of male good condition. Results presented in this study were different according to which regression model type was used. While the OLS slope for baculum length in M. erminea indicated negative allometry, the RMA model showed positive allometry. The results obtained for M. erminea weren’t in agreement with mentioned hypothesis that if baculum allometry is affected by the degree of pre-copulatory selection relative to post-copulatory selection, then we predict isometry or negative allometry of the baculum. Nevertheless, we suggest, that to confirm the above statements further analysis of more numerous material of M. erminea coupled with comparative analysis of testicular growth studies are needed to fully understand the importance and function of the baculum relative to the mating system.

Second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is sexually dimorphic, however, the hypothesis claiming that masculine digit ratio in women is connected with masculine phenotype is not fully confirmed. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in anthropometric parameters in women in relation to the digit ratio value. Cross-sectional research was conducted among 730 Polish female university students, aged 19-25 years. Anthropometric measurements were performed and data about socioeconomic status were collected. The results showed no statistically significant relationships between both right- or left-hand 2D:4D digit ratio and body height and BMI either in univariate linear regressions or in multivariate regression when SES was included in the models. The correlation between right-hand 2D:4D digit ratio and WHR also was not statistically significant. There were significant linear negative relationships between left 2D:4D and WHR. The significant linear negative relationships between both right and left 2D:4D and waist circumference and WHtR were found. Relationships between digit ratio and WC and WHtR were also tested by multiple regression analyses with SES included in the models. The results were statistically significant. Additionally, statistically significant differences in both right- and left digit ratios depending of the categories of waist circumference and WHtR were found. The lowest values of digit ratio were presented by the women with abdominal obesity. The results suggest that low values of digit ratio in women are associated with higher abdominal fat accumulation.

The distribution of genetic diversity within Erebia pronoe (Esper, 1780) populations in relation to biogeographic ranges is essential for understanding the processes of evolution, speciation and phylogeography in this species. A certain degree of genetic variability was expected because of the species’ linkage solely to calcareous soils. These ideas were focused on the water ringlet E. pronoe, a European endemic montane butterfly distributed over a narrow area of mountains, with its occurrence dependent on nutrient plants. Therefore, the origin, occurrence, phylogeography and variability are described in defined mountain localities in Europe in the light of glaciation events that occurred during the Quaternary (Pleistocene) period. The species’ phylogeography is based on a combination of two mitochondrial genes (COI, CR) and morphology (wing morphometry). The study comprised samples from the Western Carpathians, Pyrenees, Alps, South-Eastern Carpathians (Romania) and Southern Limestone Alps (Slovenia). Moreover, the species’ remarkable phylogeographic structure was observed, including four morphologic lineages and divergent genetic lineages. These lineages cover the Carpathian Mountains as well as the Western European mountains (Spanish populations) with no apparent gene flow between most regions, even across distances of only hundreds of kilometres.

An albino specimen of the water vole (Arvicola amphibius) collected at Kravaře, Opava dist. (Silesia, Czech Republic), on 17 May 1965, has been recently examined in the collection of the Šariš Museum Bardejov, Slovakia.

Craniometric characteristics of two sibling species of the genus Mus, the indoor house mouse (Mus musculus) and the outdoor mound-building mouse (M. spicilegus), from Slovakia were compared and evaluated in order to discriminate them. Twenty-one skull and dental variables were evaluated on 107 skulls of adult house mice, M. musculus and 80 skulls of mound-building mice, M. spicilegus. The parametric unpaired t-test and discriminant function analysis showed variations in the cranial variables between the two species. We identified four dental variables (LaM1, LaM1, LM1 and LOID) suitable for the differentiation.