Comparing various forms of morphological diversity by means of dispersion analysis (exemplified by studying measurable morphological traits variation in three rodent genera, Mammalia).

Dispersion analysis of variances (MANOVA) is shown to be of use in comparative analysis of different forms of morphological diversity expressed in measurable traits. This approach is exemplified by analysis of subgeneric, species, subspecies, sex, and individual forms of MD in rodent genera Allactaga, Alticola, and Spalax. Some conditions and limitations of the approach are discussed.