مشخصات پژوهش

Introduction The present study aimed to compare the morphological characteristics of the mandible of male and female Persian Fallow Deer (Dama dama mesopotamica) using the landmark-based geometric morphometric method. Materials and Methods In cooperation with the Department of Environment of Mazandaran Province, heads of four dead Persian Fallow Deer (2 males & 2 females) of Dasht-e Naz Shelter, Sari, Iran, were collected. After preparation, the mandibles were dissociated from the temporomandibular joint. The left side of the specimens were photographed, and 11 landmark-points in mandible were digitized on 2D images using the TpsDig2 software. Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) and Principal Component Analysis PCA Analysis were used to examine shape differences between the two sexes. The gender consensus pattern of the sexes was illustrated by the MorphoJ software. Results and Discussions The study results indicated that there were no significant differences between male and female Persian Fallow Deer mandibles in the defined landmarks. However, based on the DFA analysis, the mandibles of male and female Persian Fallow deer had some differences in some landmarks such as the most caudal point of mandible and the curvature in the junction between the body and the ramus of mandible. Conclusion The current study revealed that there was no significant difference between male and female Persian Fallow Deer mandibles based on the geometric morphometric method.