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11 July 2016 Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae) — Part I: Morphometry
Magdalena Zatoń-Dobrowolska, Magdalena Moska, Anna Mucha, Heliodor Wierzbicki, Piotr Przysiecki, Maciej Dobrowolski
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Abstract

This paper demonstrates the influence of artificial selection on morphometric traits in the red fox [Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)]. Measurements and two proportion coefficients were analysed in 132 wild and 199 farm red foxes. The two groups differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) on all but one of the measurements. Eight out of 11 measurements were significantly greater in the farm fox population, while only tail length, ear height, and length of the right hind limb were greater in the population of wild foxes. The opposite trend was observed when analysing variation in the measurements — the farm foxes were characterized by a greater variability only in the case of body weight, body length, and breadth of chest. When analysing the sexual dimorphism index in different sex and population groups, in almost all analysed traits, the greatest differences occurred between farm males and wild females. All of the traits examined in this study are important for survival of wild foxes. However, because importance of some traits was reduced during domestication and selective breeding (farm foxes do not have to fight for survival), the genetic relationship between them may have weakened. Other possible causes of morphological differences between the studied groups of red foxes are discussed as well.

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Magdalena Zatoń-Dobrowolska, Magdalena Moska, Anna Mucha, Heliodor Wierzbicki, Piotr Przysiecki, and Maciej Dobrowolski "Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae) — Part I: Morphometry," Canadian Journal of Animal Science 96(4), 589-597, (11 July 2016). https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2016-0026
Received: 10 February 2016; Accepted: 24 May 2016; Published: 11 July 2016
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KEYWORDS
farm red fox
Morphometrics
Vulpes vulpes
wild red fox
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