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No functional sexual dimorphism in Minorcan horse assessed by geometric morphometric methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2015

Pere M. Parés-Casanova  and
C. Allés
Pere M. Parés-Casanova*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198-Lleida, Catalunya, Spain
C. Allés
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198-Lleida, Catalunya, Spain
*
Correspondence to: P.M. Parés-Casanova, Department of Animal Production, University of Lleida, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198-Lleida, Catalunya, Spain. email: peremiquelp@prodan.udl.cat
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Summary

The existence of sexual dimorphism in the Minorcan horse, an autochthonous breed from Minorca Island in the Balearic archipelago (NW Mediterranean Sea), is established in the official standard, with females being shorter and longer than males as well as having slenderer necks and a squarer croup. However, no study so far has explored the size and shape components of this dimorphism separately. The aim of this study was to analyse the morphology of this breed using geometric morphometric methods in order to find size and shape differences between sire lines. The analysis was based on landmarks digitized in lateral view from 38 registered adult Minorcan horses (20 males and 18 females) within an age range of 3–14 years (average 7 years) with different performance goals. The analyses did not reveal any significant differences between the “shape” and “size” of male and female animals, for the landmarks studied, so the sexes are functionally similar.

Résumé

L'existence de dimorphisme sexuel chez le cheval Minorquin, une race autochtone de l’Île de Minorque dans l'Archipel des Baléares (Nord-Ouest de la Mer Méditerranée), est reconnue dans le standard officiel, avec les femelles étant plus basses et longues que les mâles et ayant le cou plus fin et la croupe plus carrée. Cependant, aucune étude n'a, jusqu’à présent, examiné séparément les composants de taille et forme de ce dimorphisme. L'objectif de cette étude a été d'analyser la morphologie de cette race en utilisant des Méthodes de Morphométrie Géométrique (MMG) afin de déceler des différences de taille et forme entre les lignées d’étalons. L'analyse s'est basée sur des repères numérisés sur la vue latérale de 38 chevaux Minorquins adultes inscrits (20 mâles et 18 femelles), âgés de 3 à 14 ans (7 ans, en moyenne) et avec différents objectifs de performance. Pour les repères considérés, les analyses n'ont pas mis en évidence des différences significatives entre la forme et la taille des individus mâles et femelles, comme quoi les sexes sont similaires d'un point de vue fonctionnel.

Resumen

La existencia de dimorfismo sexual en el caballo Menorquín, una raza autóctona de la Isla de Menorca en el Archipiélago Balear (Noroeste del Mar Mediterráneo), está recogida en el estándar oficial, siendo las hembras más bajas y largas que los machos y con un cuello más fino y una grupa más cuadrada. Sin embargo, hasta la fecha, ningún estudio ha explorado por separado los componentes de tamaño y forma de este dimorfismo. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la morfología de esta raza usando Métodos de Morfometría Geométrica (MMG) con el fin de dilucidar diferencias en tamaño y forma entre las líneas paternas. El análisis se basó en puntos de referencia digitalizados sobre la vista lateral de 38 caballos Menorquines adultos registrados (20 machos y 18 hembras), con edades comprendidas entre los 3 y los 14 años (7 años de media) y con diferentes fines productivos. Para los puntos de referencia estudiados, los análisis no arrojaron diferencias significativas entre la forma y el tamaño de los ejemplares machos y hembras, con lo que los sexos son similares desde un punto de vista funcional.

Keywords

Balearic breedsEquusgeometric morphometricsmorphofunctional traitsraces des BaléaresEquusmorphométrie géométriquetraits morpho-fonctionnelsrazas balearesEquusmorfometría geométricarasgos morfofuncionales
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 56 , June 2015 , pp. 91 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2015 

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