Geographic Variation in Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Skull Morphology
The Young Generation of Veterinary Anatomists (YGVA) Congress, Sarajevo, Bosna-Hersek, 22 - 24 Temmuz 2026, ss.1-2, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Sarajevo
- Basıldığı Ülke: Bosna-Hersek
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-2
- İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study aimed to evaluate regional morphological differences in the skulls of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) from Sarajevo, Poland, and Switzerland using 3D geometric morphometric methods. A total of 168 skulls were analyzed. Centroid size results showed that the largest skulls belonged to the Polish group, whereas the smallest were found in the Swiss group; specimens from Sarajevo occupied an intermediate position between these two. Size differences were statistically strong, and all pairwise comparisons were significant. Shape analyses also revealed clear morphological divergence among the groups. PC1 primarily separated the Polish group from the others and was associated with a longer and narrower rostrum, a more elongated facial profile, and a more linear cranial silhouette in dorsal view. In the negative direction of PC1, a shorter and broader facial region, a fuller appearance around the orbit, and a more compact skull shape were observed. PC2 was particularly important in distinguishing the Sarajevo group; its negative direction was characterized by a higher and broader preorbital/facial region, whereas the positive direction showed a narrower and more elongated rostral structure. PC3 reflected more subtle shape differences, especially between Swiss and Polish specimens, highlighting small but meaningful changes in the rostral tip, orbital region, and dorsal cranial width. Although the Swiss group had the smallest skull size, it showed the highest level of shape variability. Allometric analyses indicated that size significantly influenced shape, but group differences were not explained by size alone. Overall, the findings suggest that skull morphology in these three geographic populations has diverged under the combined effects of environmental conditions, diet, local genetic structure, and developmental/functional adaptations