Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae). Part I: Morphometry

The paper demonstrates the influence of artificial selection on morphometric traits in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Measurements and two proportion coefficients were analysed in 132 wild and 199 farm red foxes. The two groups differed significantly (P â ¤ 0.05) on all but one of the measurements. Eight out of eleven 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 â the farm foxes were characterised 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/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.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author