The Cape gannet, Morus capensis, has long been considered a monomorphic species despite attempts at phenotypically separating the sexes. In a further effort we here recorded morphometric measurements from genetically sexed Cape gannets. Discriminant function analysis was used to classify sexes according to these morphometric measurements. Culmen and gular stripe lengths were selected as the best discriminators, correctly classifying 65% of birds. Male Cape gannets had significantly longer culmens and gular stripes than females. We thereby provide the first evidence suggesting that the Cape gannet demonstrates some level of dimorphism. Nonetheless, morphometric criteria used to separate sexes holds limited value due to overlap in measurements between sexes.
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1 April 2014
Sex Differentiation Based on the Gular Stripe in the Apparently Monomorphic Cape Gannet
Gavin M. Rishworth,
Maëlle Connan,
David B. Green,
Pierre A. Pistorius
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African Zoology
Vol. 49 • No. 1
April 2014
Vol. 49 • No. 1
April 2014
discriminant function analysis
Morus capensis
seabird
South Africa