Sexual dimorphism and offspring sex ratio in feral cats
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Tyler Perkins (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: This pilot study investigated several reproductive parameters including anogenital distance and intrauterine position to determine its effects, if any, on fertility factors such as litter size and sex ratio in feral cats in the NC triad. While it is known that males possess larger anogenital distances across many mammalian species, some of the first averages on anogenital distance in feral cats were calculated in this study. The average anogenital distance on male cats in this study was found to be 2.22 cm and 1.29 for females (includes all females analyzed: pregnant and normal females). The data obtained in this study indicate that there is no statistically significant correlation between body mass and anogenital distance in neither males nor females. No conclusion could be made as to whether anogenital distance affected litter sex ratio due to sample size limitations of this study. With regards to anogenital distance and an effect on litter size, no statistically significant correlation was found between the two variables. Intrauterine position results were inconclusive, once again due to sample size limitations of this study. While more information is necessary before it can be determined whether the phenomenona of anogenital distance and intrauterine position are reliable predictors of pregnancy outcomes (including litter size and sex ratios), the results of this study demonstrates the lack of correlation between several variables and indicates the relationships between variables that require more data collection. It also established the sexual dimorphism of anogenital distance in feral cats.
Sexual dimorphism and offspring sex ratio in feral cats
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Created on 6/2/2015
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Honors Project
- Language: English
- Date: 2015
- Keywords
- feral cats, feline reproduction, biology