Comparative Effects of Biogeography, Ecology and Radiation on Morphology of Some Cranial Variables in Raccoon Dogs Species (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Samuel, O. M.; Olopade, J. O.; Onwuka, S. K.

doi:10.21608/jva.2015.44865

Comparative Effects of Biogeography, Ecology and Radiation on Morphology of Some Cranial Variables in Raccoon Dogs Species (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Veterinary Anatomy University of Ibadan, Nigeria & Department of Veterinary Anatomy University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria

² Department of Veterinary Anatomy University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria

10.21608/jva.2015.44865

Abstract

The present adimension in tropicalN. procyonoides. Comparable archi- tecture and construction was found in mandibular height at M1 as well as Koronium to angular process length, cheek tooth row length diverged widely across geographic locations being highest and lowest in Polish and tropical species re- spectively. Divergence also occurred in rostral and caudal viscero-cranial lengths, a similarity in the latter parameter between Ussuriensis and subject of this survey was observed. Maximum palatal length was lowest in Ussuriensis and highest in tropical species. The study concludes that origin, possible genetic distance, period of radiation and human activities impacted on changing skull parameters. Main- land species from Japan appears smaller sized compared to island versions. Newer geographic areas of introduction of this species demonstrated an up-regulation in some cranial parameters.

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