Morphological and genetic variation in Suncus murinus (Soricidae: Crocidurinae) from Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku and Sulawesi, Indonesia

Morphological variation in skull, dental and external characters of 132 specimens of Suncus murinus from Java, Ball, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Sulawesi, were analysed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. Variation between adult S. murinus was principally associated with geographic factors. Overall body size, as indicated separately by condyloincisor length and body weight, was significantly correlated with distance from potential mainland, or large island source areas, and with island area. Suncus murinus was also sexually dimorphic, with males being larger than females for most characters studied. Three subspecies were recognised: S. m. murinus (Java, Ball); S. m. mulleri (Nusa Tenggara, Kai Besar, Banda Neira, Ambon, Mangole, Sulawesi) and S., murinus subsp. nov. (Seram).Genetic variability within five island populations of Suncus murinus (Ball, Flores, Adonara, Lembata, Sulawesi) approached the mammalian average. Genetic distances were also typical of those observed for conspecific mammalian populations. There was no indication that S. m. mulleri was genetically distinct from S. m. murinus.