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Skull variation in different breeds sheep from Balkan countries
Ozan Gündemir1, Sokol Duro2, Tomasz Szara3
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34500, Turkey.
Geometric morphometrics reveals significant skull shape diversity among Balkan sheep breeds. This method effectively distinguishes local sheep populations, aiding in their taxonomic classification and conservation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Agricultural Science
- Bioengineering
Background:
- The Balkan Peninsula boasts diverse agricultural and livestock traditions, with numerous local sheep breeds.
- Geographical proximity does not eliminate significant morphological and morphometric variability among these sheep breeds due to distinct breeding practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological diversity of sheep skulls from Balkan region breeds using geometric morphometrics.
- To identify distinct skull shape variations and their taxonomic significance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2D dorsal view images of 86 sheep skulls from five Balkan countries.
- Application of geometric morphometrics with sixteen defined landmarks.
Main Results:
- Significant skull shape variations were observed among Balkan sheep breeds.
- Bardhoka (Kosovo) and Ivesi (Turkey) breeds showed the widest skull shape distributions.
- Ruda sheep exhibited the most conservative morphology, while Dubska and Lara e Polisit breeds showed minimal differences.
Conclusions:
- Geometric morphometrics is a valuable tool for detecting subtle skull shape differences in sheep breeds.
- This technique can be successfully applied for taxonomic purposes and understanding breed differentiation.
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