Abstract

Aim: The study was aimed to study integration and modularity and specifically addressing two different shaped skull changes associated to different taurine groups and skull modules involvement

Method and materials: It was studied 46 skulls by applying 2D geometric morphometrics methods. Skulls belonged to adult individuals classified into three geographical groups (Occidental Europe n=30, Oriental Europe n=6 and African n=10), although this research does not intend to classify breeds on a phylogenetical point of view, but rather consider anatomical changes among bovine domestic populations from different geographical areas. The original data-size corrected data was analysed with a two discrete modules hypothesis: neurocranium (“braincase”) and splanchnocranium (“face”).

Results: A clear modularity in skull was seen, being the shape changes more clearly associated with neurocranium, which discriminated better all three groups. These results showed that skull morphometry can separate cattle geographical groups from each other to a great extent and mainly based on neurocranium features.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the neurocranium and the splanchnocranium represent separated modules were confirmed by the different biological information they provided.

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