Study was conducted on a sample consisting of 38 mouflon horns from hunting grounds in Serbia. The parameters that were analyzed (length of the left horn, length of the right horn, circumference of the horns, spread of the horns, color of the horns, ring and curvature) were measured according to the propositions adopted by the The International Council for Game and Wildlife. The aim of the paper was to determine the absolute and mean values ​​of the length of the left horn and of the right horn, the circumference of the horns, span of the horns, annularity and curve of the horns, as well as the existence of mutual dependence between certain parameters of mouflon trophies. Using the method of descriptive statistics, the mean values ​​of the length of the left and right horns were obtained. Results showed that the right horn was slightly more developed in the observed population. Namely, the mean value of the length of the right horn is larger, while the mean values ​​of the circumference of the left and right are almost the same. The results of Pearson’s correlation showed a statistically significant positive correlation between certain morphometric parameters of the horns, such as the length of the horns and the circumference of horn in the second and in the third third distance from the base. A positive correlation was also observed between curvature of horns and circumference in the first and second thirds, as well as between curvature of horns and horn span.
Short Communication · Volume 55, Issue 6, 31 October 2023 · Open Access
Basic Morphometric Characteristics of Mouflon Trophies (Ovis orientalis Gmelin, 1774)
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Affiliations & Notes ⌄
- 1Center for Perservation of Indigenous Breeds, Belgrade, Serbia 2Faculty of Science, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 3, 21000 Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Serbia 3Faculty of Applied Ecology-Futura, University, Metropoliten, Belgrade, Serbia 4Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sv. Kliment Ohridski Bitola, The Northern Macedonia * Corresponding author: milosava@dgt.uns.ac.rs
Article Info ⌄
- Journal:
- Pakistan Journal of Zoology
- Published:
- 31 October 2023
From the article
- The results of the research showed the absolute and mean values of the length of the left horn and the right horn, the circumference of the horns, the range of the horns, annularity and curvature of the horns, but also the existence of mutual dependence between certain parameters of mouflon trophies.
- Using the method of descriptive statistics, the mean values of the length of the left and right horns were obtained, and it was determined that the right horn was slightly more developed in the observed population.
- The results of Pearson’s correlation showed a statistically significant positive correlation between certain morphometric parameters of the horns, such as the length of the left and right horns and the circumference in the second and third distance from the base.
Selected from the article's own text.
Abstract
Material and methods
For the purposes of this work, the morphometric parameters of the horns of male mouflon shot on hunting grounds in Serbia were analyzed. The study was conducted on a sample consisting of 38 horns. The data was taken from the official CIC Mouflon horn grading forms. Evaluation was done by authorized CIC experts, and confirmation was done at official hunting trophy exhibitions. The parameters that were analyzed were measured according to the propositions adopted by the CIC, the International Council for Game and Wildlife. Observed parameters were length of the left horn, length of the right horn, circumference of the left and right horn (the circumference in the first third distance from the base, the circumference in the second third distance from the base, the circumference in the third distance from the base), span of the horns, color of the horns, annularity and curve of the horns. The data were first processed using the method of descriptive statistics, then the Pearson correlation method was used to determine the dependence between the observed parameters. The collected data were processed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows Release 17.0.0 software.
Results
The lengths of the left horn range from 60 cm to 102.5 cm, and the lengths of the right horn range from 60.7 cm to 100.5 cm. Using the method of descriptive statistics, the mean values of the length of the left horn 78.80±8.60 cm, and the length of the right horn 79.04±8.03cm (SD), were obtained (Table I).
Table I. Descriptive statistical indicators for horn lengths.
| The length of the left horn | The length of the right horn | ||
| N | Valid | 38 | 38 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | |
| Mean | 78.79 | 79.03 | |
| Std. error of mean | 1.395 | 1.30 | |
| Std. deviation | 8.60 | 8.03 | |
| Variance | 74.00 | 64.61 | |
| Skewness | 0.22 | 0.25 | |
| Std. error of skewness | 0.38 | 0.38 | |
| Kurtosis | 0.54 | 0.94 | |
| Std. error of kurtosis | 0.75 | 0.75 | |
| Range | 42.50 | 39.80 | |
| Minimum | 60.00 | 60.70 | |
| Maximum | 102.50 | 100.50 | |
The circumference at the beginning of the first third of the left horn ranges from 20.5 to 25.8cm, at the beginning of the second third from 19.7 to 24.7 cm and at the beginning of the third of the left horn from 14.4 to 21 cm. The circumference at the beginning of the first third of the right horn ranges from 19.6 cm to 25.5 cm, at the beginning of the second third from 20 cm to 25 cm
Table II. Descriptive statistical indicators for horn circumferences.
| 1st third left horn | 1st third right horn | 2nd third left horn | 2nd third right horn | 3rd third left horn | 3rd third right horn | ||
| N | Valid | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mean | 23.46 | 23.40 | 22.33 | 22.37 | 17.66 | 17.70 | |
| Std. deviation | 1.20 | 1.34 | 1.23 | 1.24 | 1.70 | 1.74 | |
| Variance | 1.44 | 1.79 | 1.53 | 1.55 | 2.90 | 3.05 | |
| Skewness | -.28 | -.79 | -.16 | -.10 | .14 | .36 | |
| Std. error of skewness | .38 | .38 | .38 | .38 | .38 | .38 | |
| Kurtosis | -.02 | .93 | -.70 | -.54 | -.49 | .29 | |
| Std. error of kurtosis | .75 | .75 | .75 | .75 | .75 | .75 | |
| Range | 5.30 | 5.90 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 6.60 | 8.30 | |
| Minimum | 20.50 | 19.60 | 19.70 | 20.00 | 14.40 | 14.00 | |
| Maximum | 25.80 | 25.50 | 24.70 | 25.00 | 21.00 | 22.30 | |
and at the beginning of the third of the right horn from 14 cm to 22.3 cm. Using the method of descriptive statistics, the mean values of the circumference at the beginning of the first third of the left horn were obtained 23.46±1.20 cm (Mean±SD) the circumference at the beginning of the first third of the right horn 23.40±1.34 cm, the girth at the beginning of the second third of the left horn 22.33±1.23 cm, the girth at the beginning of the second third of the right horn 22.37±1.24cm, the circumference at the beginning of the third third of the left horn 17.66±1.70 cm and the girth at the beginning of the third of the right horn 17.70±1.74 cm (Table II).
Table III. Descriptive statistical indicators for other characteristics of horns.
| Span of horns | Horn color | Annularity | Curvature | ||
| N | Valid | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 |
| Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mean | 47.02 | 2.21 | 2.52 | 4.47 | |
| Std. Deviation | 3.54 | .65 | .44 | .95 | |
| Variance | 12.54 | .42 | .20 | .90 | |
| Skewness | 1.16 | -.62 | -.34 | -1.71 | |
| Std. error of skewness | .38 | .38 | .38 | .38 | |
| Kurtosis | 2.41 | -.13 | -1.14 | 1.74 | |
| Std. error of kurtosis | .75 | .75 | .75 | .75 | |
| Range | 17.05 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | |
| Minimum | 41.85 | .5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | |
| Maximum | 58.90 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 5.0 | |
Table III shows descriptive indicators for range, color, annularity and curvature of horns. The mean value of the observed range is 47.02±3.54 (Mean±SD) cm, and ranges from 41.85 cm to 58.90 cm. Horn color is graded from 0 to 3 points, so the darkest horns get the maximum number of points. Annularity of the horns is also evaluated from 0 to 3 points. Table III shows that, on average, the horns received 2 points for color and 2.5 for annularity. The curvature of the horns is evaluated from 0 to 5 points, and the average value of the observed horns is 4.47 points.
The results of Pearson’s correlation showed a statistically significant positive correlation between certain morphometric parameters of the horns. Supplementary Table I shows significant statistical positive correlation between the lengths of the left and right horns and the circumference in the second and third thirds.
Supplementary Table II shows the correlations between the remaining mouflon trophy evaluation parameters. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between curvature and circumference in the first and second thirds, as well as between curvature and horn span.
Conclusion
The results of the research showed the absolute and mean values of the length of the left horn and the right horn, the circumference of the horns, the range of the horns, annularity and curvature of the horns, but also the existence of mutual dependence between certain parameters of mouflon trophies. Using the method of descriptive statistics, the mean values of the length of the left and right horns were obtained, and it was determined that the right horn was slightly more developed in the observed population. Namely, the mean value of the length of the right horn is larger, while the mean values of the circumference of the left and right are almost the same. The results of Pearson’s correlation showed a statistically significant positive correlation between certain morphometric parameters of the horns, such as the length of the left and right horns and the circumference in the second and third distance from the base. A positive correlation was also observed between curvature and circumference in the first and second thirds, as well as between curvature and horn span.
Supplementary material
There is supplementary material associated with this article. Access the material online at: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20220711150759
Statement of conflict of interest
The authors have declared no conflict of interest.
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