Study of the sable population structure in the north of the Jewish Autonomous region: morphotypic analysis

Intermolar palatine folds were studied for 91sable specimens from the northern part of the Jewish Autonomous region during four hunting seasons of 2015–2016, 2021–2022, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024. From 7 to 10 transversely extended palatine folds were found in animals. One of them is antimolar, situated between the canines, and from 6 to 9 folds are intermolar. Symmetrical and asymmetric morphotypes of intermolar palatine folds, including full-size and half-length variants, have been studied. The total sample revealed 6 symmetrical and 9 asymmetric morphotypes. In all seasons, the most common morphotype is symmetrical right-left (7.5–7.5). It was revealed a seasonal change in various morphotypes occurrence. The share of asymmetric morphotypes in the total sample was 24%, while in the last season (2023–2024) it was observed a decrease in their diversity to two variants, and a decrease in their share - to 14%.