Species-Specific Structure of the Frontal Part of the Skull in the Sable (Martes zibellina) and the European Pine Marten (Martes martes).

Comparative analysis of three craniometric traits that characterize the length-to-width ratios in the frontal surface of the skull in the sable and the pine marten was performed. The character Δ (delta) was proposed for the first time as the distance from the postorbital narrowing to the line drawn between the postorbital processes in the sagittal plane. When analyzing tutorial (n = 431) and test samplings (n = 154), the high discriminating capacity of this trait was revealed for species identification based on craniological material. A joint analysis of variations in this "Δ" trait with the breadth of the postorbital constriction revealed for the first time their species-specific interrelations, i.e., the presence of opposite trends in the ontogeny of both model species. Discriminant analysis showed a high level (more than 97%) of correct species identifications based on the newly proposed trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]