Original scientific paper

Cranial morphometry of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx L.) from Croatia

Tomislav Gomerčić ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Magda Sindičić ; Department of Game Biology, Pathology and Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Martina Đuras Gomerčić ; Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Goran Gužvica ; Department of Ecogeography, Oikon Ltd, Institute for Applied Ecology, Zagreb, Croatia
Alojzije Frković ; Kvarnerska 43, Zagreb, Croatia
Dubravka Pavlović ; Medoka doo, Zagreb, Croatia
Josip Kusak ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Galov ; Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Đuro Huber ; Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The last specimens of the autochthonous Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Croatia were exterminated in Primorsko-Goranska County in around 1903. Lynx dispersed back to Croatia after six animals were reintroduced to Slovenia from Slovakia in 1973. Today, lynx are under legislative protection in Croatia and its population is defined as highly endangered. Cranial morphometry was used to analyse a sample of 58 skulls obtained from animals of the reintroduced population in order to identify geographical variation, sexual dimorphism and sex-linked cranial characters. Eighty-five cranial measurements were recorded from each skull. Males were significantly larger than the females in 39 of the 85 cranial measurements, whereas only one measurement, the postorbital constriction, was greater in females. Our research indicates that lynx in Croatia are more similar to lynx from Czech than from Norway. No evidence was found for differences in cranial measurements between the Croatian reintroduced and the Balkan autochthonous lynx population, so there is no reason to define the later population as a separate subspecies, Lynx lynx martinoi ssp.

Keywords

Eurasian lynx; Lynx lynx; skull; cranial measurements

Hrčak ID:

58455

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/58455

Publication date:

16.6.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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