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- Title
Variability of the baculum in the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) from Slovakia.
- Authors
Čanády, Alexander
- Abstract
Despite a large number of studies on the variability of the baculum (os penis) in several orders of mammals, detailed data about the baculum of Vulpes vulpes are very few. The aim of this study was to investigate the data on quantitative characteristics of the size of the baculum and describe the variability of the baculum of V. vulpes from the transition region between the Eastern and Western Carpathians (Slovakia). The study presents the morphological variation in 10 traits of the baculum based on an analysis of 119 bacula of mature males collected in north-eastern Slovakia (near the town of Bardejov, Slovak Carpathians) during the years 1960–1981. According to descriptive statistics, bacula are variable in size. Moreover, a principal component analysis revealed strong positive correlation between several traits, mainly between the length of the baculum and the length of sulcus urethralis, dorsoventral thickness (proximal) and laterolateral thickness (proximal), dorsoventral thickness (distal) and laterolateral thickness (distal), dorsoventral thickness (middle) and laterolateral thickness (proximal), and the width of sulcus urethralis and laterolateral thickness (middle). These results of positive correlation between the length and width dimensions of the penis bone, especially of the proximal and distal end, could explain their relationship to protect the bone and urethra before fracture during copulation.
- Publication
Zoology & Ecology, 2013, Vol 23, Issue 3, p165
- ISSN
2165-8013
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1080/21658005.2013.832848