The Variation of the Skull and Sexual Dimorphism of Red Fox Sample from Egypt | ||
| Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, B. Zoology | ||
| Volume 15, Issue 1, June 2023, Pages 259-274 PDF (1012.13 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/eajbsz.2023.305316 | ||
| Author | ||
| Mahmoud I. Younes | ||
| Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt, 11884, | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Numerous species of carnivores have been described, along with their cranial traits and sexual dimorphism. Despite the red fox's widespread distribution worldwide, very few studies have specifically addressed its cranial variations in Egypt. Despite the fact that many have focused on sexual dimorphism in carnivore skull size, other few studies have attempted to examine sexual dimorphism in skull shape in carnivores. In order to understand how shape and size relate to skull variability and differentiation, the current study analyses the morphometry of red fox sample skulls from Egypt. Multivariate statistical techniques were used to examine a total of 186 red fox skulls that had been collected around the whole country. All measurements were subjected to principal component analysis in order to categorize specimens according to size and shape. The skulls of red foxes exhibit significant individual variation. Age is related to the size and shape variations in red foxes. The size and shape of the skulls of sub-adult and adult red foxes largely overlap. Red fox skulls exhibit quietly pronounced sexual dimorphism, with older males being slightly larger than females. According to their cranial measurements, red foxes from the Western Mediterranean Coastal Desert and Western Desert Oases differ from those from the other regions of the country. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Vulpes vulpes; skull morphometry; geographic variation; sexual dimorphism | ||
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