scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism in morphological characteristics of two Nigerian indigenous goat breeds

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
C. Alphonsus ◽  
G. N. Akpa ◽  
P. P. Barje ◽  
B. I. Nwagu ◽  
M. Orunmuyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
West African ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Body Depth ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
Indigenous Goat ◽  
Indigenous Goats ◽  
Red Sokoto Goat

Themorphological traits of 594 indigenous goats comprised of 316 and 279 Red Sokoto goat (RSG) and West African dwarf (WAD) goats, respectively, were measured to determine the presence or otherwise of sexual dimorphism in the morphological characteristics of the two indigenous goats. The morphological traitsmeasured were body length (BL), withers height (WH), rumps height (RH), heart girth (HG), body depth (BD), tail length (TL), head length (HL), head width (HW), ear length (EL), and horn length (HL). Also recorded were body weight (BW) and sex of each animal.The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance of fixed effect of sex on themorphological characteristics. The result revealed the presence of marked sexual dimorphism in morphological characteristics of both the RSG and WAD goats. The adult females were significantly (P< 0.05-0.01) heavier and larger in size than the males. The respective coefficients of variation (CV) between breeds were high in most of the morphological traits suggesting high heterogeneity, an indication of the amount of opportunity available for improving the breeds through selection.

Sexual dimorphism, deformations, and epibionts of Phrynops tuberosus (Testudines, Chelidae)

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Fabrício Mota Rodrigues ◽  
José Roberto Feitosa Silva
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Body Condition Index ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
History Of ◽  
One Year ◽  
Effective Conservation

Studies focusing on the natural history of species are essential for developing effective conservation measures and evaluating ecological hypotheses. To this end, we describe natural history data of the Cotinga River toadhead turtle, Phrynops tuberosus, in the Banabuiú River in Ceará, Brazil, and evaluated sexual dimorphism, epibionts, and mutilation effects. We hand-captured 134 individuals by snorkeling, over a period of one year, resulting in the capture of 94 males, 24 females, and 16 juveniles. Females had larger head width and body mass than males, while males had longer tail length. One quarter of the turtles captured had some sort of injury or deformation, most common injuries being missing claws, mutilations, and shell deformations. We found no difference in body condition index between mutilated and non-mutilated animals. Mollusks, insects, and leeches were found as epibionts on P. tuberosus and most of the captured turtles had extensive algal cover. Future studies should focus on understanding the effect of mutilations on animal fitness and reproductive success.

scholarly journals Zoometrical index analysis of Nigerian indigenous goat populations

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 18-24
Author(s):  
M. A. Popoola ◽  
A. O. Adekanbi
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Traits ◽  
West African ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
West African Dwarf ◽  
Index Analysis ◽  
Indigenous Goat ◽  
Indigenous Goats ◽  
Functional Indices ◽  
Meat Type

The study was conducted to assess the zoometrical index analyses of Nigerian indigenous breeds of goats. The sampled populations of goat included 100 from each of three populations of goat in Nigeria; Red Sokoto, West African dwarf (WAD) and Sahel to give a total of 300 animals. .Nine body measurements were taken on these goats, which were used to estimate the ethnological indices and functional indices (as the zoometrical index) of the animals. There was significant effects (p<0.05) of breeds on morphological traits of these animals. The functional and ethnological traits of these goat populations were significantly affected by breeds (p<0.05) except pelvic and corporal. Based on the results of this study, Nigerian indigenous goats are medium-sized and their conformation corresponds to the meat type animals.

scholarly journals The effects of genotype and week of lactation on milk yield, udder dimensions and linear body measurements of non-dairy ewes

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
O. O. Adewumi ◽  
C. A. Chineke ◽  
J. A. Alokan ◽  
I. J. James ◽  
O. A. Akinola
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
West African ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
West African Dwarf ◽  
Face Length ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Linear Body

One hundred and ninety two records were taken weekly for twenty four (24) weeks from West African Dwarf (WD), the Yankasa (YN) and the West African Dwarf X Yankasa crossbred (XB) sheep. The traits evaluated were milk yield (MK), linear body measurements (LB) such as height at withers, (HT), body length (BL), heart girth (HG), shoulder width (SW), Tail length (TA), Neck length (NL), Neck circumference (NC), Face length (FA), Hind leg length (HL), Foreleg length (FL), Face length (FA), Ear length (EA), Head width (HW) and Rump height (RH) together with the following Udder dimensions (UD): Udder circumference (UC), Teat length (TL) and Teat circumference (TC). There was significant (P<0.05) influence of genotype on MK, WHT, HT, BL, TA, FL, HL, FA, EA and RH. The WD ewes produced more milk than either the YN or XB enes. Average daily milk yield (ml) was 122.25, 90.88 ana 108.8. The YN genotype was superior in all LBs except SW and NC than the WD and XB in the three genotypes. Height at withers was 59.08, 69.21 and 61.81 cm; BL 48.54, 55.08 and 54.49 cm and RH 62.88, 75.11 and 68.46 cm for WD, YN and XB enes respectively. Since milk offtake is related to body weight and some linear body measurements, selection for WT, HG, SW, NL NC, UC and TL in WD ewes could lead to higher milk and mutton production.  

scholarly journals Aspects of reproduction and sexual dimorphism of Lygophis flavifrenatus (Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Marques Quintela ◽  
Daniel Loebmann
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Mature Female ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Body Dimensions ◽  
New Information

ABSTRACT Lygophis flavifrenatus Cope, 1862 is a terrestrial dispsadid distributed in subtropical Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. Herein, we present data on sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology of this very poorly studied species. A total of 108 specimens (55 females, 50 males, three hatchlings with unidentified sex) from Brazilian states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul were analyzed. Sexual dimorphism by size, body dimensions (tail length, head length, head width) and a number of ventral and subcaudal scales is not well marked in the species. Mature females attain the greater size and have a higher number of ventral scales than mature males. Mature males, in turn, presented longer tail, longer and wider head and a higher number of subcaudal scales. Meanwhile, marked overlaps were observed in ranges of all body dimensions proportions and a number of ventral and subcaudal scales. Females attained sexual maturity at a greater size than males. The smallest mature female showed snout-vent length (SVL) = 402 mm while the smallest mature male presented SVL = 285 mm. Females presented a seasonal reproductive cycle, with advanced stages (advanced development of secondary follicles and development of eggs) occurring in late winter and spring. Hatchlings were found in late summer. It is supposed that only one clutch is laid per cycle, considering that the great majority of secondary follicles found in females carrying eggs were irregular or lamellar shaped (possibly atresic). Clutch sizes varied from 6 to 12 eggs (mean = 8.2) and presented a tendency for positive correlation with progenitors SVL. The present study adds new information to the knowledge about the natural history of snakes from subtropical Neotropics.

Sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in two sympatric toad-headed lizards, Phrynocephalus frontalis and P. versicolor (Agamidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu-Xi Mao ◽  
Jian-Fang Gao ◽  
Xiang Ji ◽  
Yan-Fu Qu
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Species Difference ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Offspring Size ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Female Reproductive Traits

AbstractWe studied sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in two sympatric species of toad-headed lizards, Phrynocephalus frontalis and P. versicolor, from Inner Mongolia, North China. The smallest reproductive females of P. frontalis and P. versicolor we recorded were 43.5 mm and 44.2 mm SVL, respectively. Females were the larger sex in P. versicolor, whereas female and male adults of P. frontalis did not differ in mean SVL. Females of P. frontalis were on average smaller than females of P. versicolor, so were males of P. frontalis. In both species females were larger in abdomen length (AL) but smaller in head length (HL), head width (HW) and tail length (TL); adults of P. frontalis were larger in HL and TL but smaller in AL and HW than adults of P. versicolor of the same size. Females of both species laid a single clutch of 2-6 eggs per breeding season. The trade-off between size and number of eggs was evident in both species. Of the examined female reproductive traits, only clutch size and egg size differed between the two species, with females of P. frontalis laying fewer but larger eggs than did females of P. versicolor of the same SVL. However, as the observed between-species difference in egg size (and thus, offspring size) was small, any niche divergence resulting from this difference could be less important in reducing competitions between these two sympatric species of lizards.

scholarly journals An Improved Approach to Measuring Sexual Dimorphism in Snakes: Morphological Variation in the Bahamian Racer (Cubophis vudii vudii)

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
Scott Johnson ◽  
William K. Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Total Length ◽  
New Providence

Sexual dimorphism in animals exists in many forms, including overall size difference between the sexes (sexual size dimorphism, SSD) and size and structural differences in body components (sexual body component dimor­phism, SBCD). Studies of sexual dimorphism seek to determine whether dimorphic traits result from sexual selection, natural selection, or non-adaptive processes. Characterizing sexual dimorphism depends on identifying an unbiased character for overall body size, which can then be used to assess both SSD and SBCD. Most studies of snakes use snout-vent length (SVL) for this purpose, but SVL may itself be dimorphic. In this study, we examined SSD and SBCD in three island populations of the Bahamian Racer (Cubophis vudii vudii). Discriminant function analysis (DFA) showed that head width (females wider) and tail length (males longer) best discriminated between the sexes, and total length provided the least discrimination. Linear models using total length as the least-biased measure for overall size revealed an absence of SSD, but SBCD existed for head size (width 8.9% greater in females, length similar), trunk length (4.3% longer in females), and tail length (9.8% longer in males). Linear models also revealed differences among island populations for total length (New Providence < Eleuthera = Allen Cay) and head length (Allen Cay < Eleuthera < New Providence), but not head width or tail length. Extent of SBCD varied depending on choice of character to control for overall body size, with total length yielding the most female-biased values, and geometric mean, principal component 1 (PC1) of a principal components analysis, and SVL providing increasingly more male-biased values, respectively. Body condition was statistically similar for the two sexes and three seasons (spring, summer-fall, winter), but the mod­erate and large effect sizes, respectively, suggest that females were heavier than males, and both sexes were heaviest in spring. Females, which represented 64.9 of all snakes, suffered injuries disproportionately to males (19.7% and 3.1%, respectively), but no differences in sex ratio or frequency of injury existed among the island populations. Collectively, these findings illustrate the utility of using DFA and other approaches (geometric mean, PC1) to identify a relatively unbiased reference character for overall body size and suggest that sexual and natural selection interact to shape the morphology of these snakes.

scholarly journals Examination of sexual dimorphism in New-Zealand White × Californian rabbits by morphological traits

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Abayomi Rotimi
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Animal Protein ◽  
Abdominal Circumference ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Live Body Weight

Abstract Rabbits provide a cheap source of high quality animal protein and thus have the potential to bridge the shortage of animal protein in developing countries. Data were collected on 174 New Zealand × California cross-bred rabbits (87 males and 87 females) for this study, to quantify the morphological characteristics and to determine the morphological parameters that contribute to body conformation using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Data were collected on live body weight (LBW), body length (BDL), ear length (EAL), tail length (TAL), rump length (RUL), heart girth (HAG) and abdominal circumference (ADC). Data collected were analysed using the procedures of the PAST® 3.21 statistical package. Mean live body weight (± SE) for the females (0.980 ± 0.02 kg) and males (0.790 ± 0.02 kg) was recorded. There were positive and highly significant (p < 0.01) correlation coefficients between live body weight and the linear body measurements. One principal component was extracted, accounting for 64.8% of the total variances in morphological indicators measured in the New Zealand × California rabbits. The extracted principal component in this study could be used as aid in selection programme. The results obtained revealed the occurrence of sexual dimorphism, where female rabbits recorded significantly (p < 0.05) higher values than males in all the traits measured. This information suggests that use of rabbit for meat production should skew towards raising female rabbits.

RHYNCHOLITES AND THE PROBLEM OF NARROW AND BROAD CONCEPTION OF TAXONS

2018 ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Khuzina ◽  
V. N. Komarov
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Mass Scale ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Artificial System ◽  
Broad Understanding

The paper considers a point of view, based on the conception of the broad understanding of taxons. According to this point of view, rhyncholites of the subgenus Dentatobeccus and Microbeccus are accepted to be synonymous with the genus Rhynchoteuthis, and subgenus Romanovichella is considered to be synonymous with the genus Palaeoteuthis. The criteria, exercising influence on the different approaches to the classification of rhyncholites, have been analyzed (such as age and individual variability, sexual dimorphism, pathological and teratological features, degree of disintegration of material), underestimation of which can lead to inaccuracy. Divestment of the subgenuses Dentatobeccus, Microbeccus and Romanovichella, possessing very bright morphological characteristics, to have an independent status and denomination to their synonyms, has been noted to be unjustified. An artificial system (any suggested variant) with all its minuses is a single probable system for rhyncholites. The main criteria, minimizing its negative sides and proving the separation of the new taxon, is an available mass-scale material. The narrow understanding of the genus, used in sensible limits, has been underlined to simplify the problem of the passing the view about the genus to the other investigators and recognition of rhyncholites for the practical tasks.

Characteristics of Bonpala sheep

1997 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. K. Vij ◽  
M. S. Tantia ◽  
A. E. Nivsarkar
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Sheep Breed ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Face Width ◽  
Face Length

SummaryBonpala is a dual purpose sheep breed found in Sikkim, Western Bhutan and Eastern Nepal. A sample survey was conducted in east Sikkim to record characteristics of Bonpala sheep. Information was recorded on morphological characteristics, management practices and body measurements. Bonpala sheep have mixed colours ranging from all white, white and black or all black. Measurements were recorded of body length, height, heart girth, paunch girth, rump width, pin width, face length, face width, ear length, tail length, horn length and horn circumference.

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