%0 Journal Article %A JIANG Xuelong %A LI Song %A WANG Yingxiang %A YANG Junxing %T Geographic variation in giant squirrels Ratufa bicolor (Sciuridae:Ratufinae)from China based on cranial measurable variables %D 2008 %R %J ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA %P 201-206 %V 28 %N 2 %X Giant squirrels (Ratufa bicolor) are an endemic group in the Indomalayan Region. Only one species of the giant squirrel occurs in China, and is distributed in Hainan Province, southwestern Guangxi Province, southern, southwestern, western, and northwestern Yunnan Province. Subspecies differentiation of the species used to be determined by their pelage characteristics. In this study, we obtained data on 23 cranial variables from 75 specimens. Principal component analyses, discriminant analysis, and cluster analysis were performed to discuss the validity of each subspecies and their geographic variation. Our results indicated that R. b. gigantea and R. b. hainana are all valid subspecies, the former ranging from southwestern Guangxi Province to southern,southwestern,western,and northwestern Yunnan Province,and the latter occurring in Hainan Province. However, our results did not support R. b. stigmosa as a valid subspecies of R. bicolor. %U http://www.mammal.cn/EN/abstract/article_2194.shtml