Research Article

Domestication of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) reflected in metric characters of selected thoracic girdle bones

Lidia Felska-Błaszczyk, Piotr Baranowski, Beata Seremak, Katarzyna Pęzińska, Piotr Nowak, Bogdan Lasota, Olga Steller

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 12(2), 2013, 15‒30

Abstract. The aim of this study was to compare the characters of the pectoral girdle morphological elements between the wild and captive, farm-bred forms of the red fox. The study was conducted on the humeri, radii, ulnae, and scapulae collected from 24 wild and 20 farmed red foxes. Each individual was posthumously measured for body weight and natural length, and the bones of the anterior girdle were collected. Images of humeri and their epiphyses were used for measurements. Statistical analysis of the measurements suggests that most metric characters of the shoulder girdle bones are greater in farmed fox. Captive foxes are characterized by a larger body weight and a shorter body as compared to the wild form. There were significant (P ≤ 0.01, P ≤ 0.05) dimorphic differences in the length and breadth of the humeral epiphysis and radial epiphysis. Also, we found a significant (P ≤ 0.01, P ≤ 0.05) effect of origin on the length of the bones.

Keywords: domestication, humerus, radius, red fox, scapula, ulna