Feline (Felis catus) Skull and Pelvic Morphology and Morphometry: Gender-Related Difference?

This study demonstrates sexual dimorphism of feline bones, based on a morphometric analysis of 38 dried feline skulls and pelvic bones (20 males, 18 females). A total of 44 parameters (skull = 12, mandible = 10, pelvis = 22) were measured using a digital vernier calliper. In morphological observation of these bones, there were three hallmarks indicating a remarkable difference between sexes: the coronoid process of the mandible (accuracy rate = 88.2%); and the os coxae - caudal ventral iliac spine (accuracy rate = 94.4%), and the angle of the ischiatic arch (accuracy rate = 74.3%). In addition, based on morphometric characteristics, six parameters were found to be significantly different (P < 0.05) between males and females, consisting of one in the mandible and five in the pelvis, but no parameters in the skull. Effective equations to discriminate gender were generated through a stepwise discriminant analysis from feline mandible and pelvic bones. Our findings showed that an equation from the pelvic bones, Y = [-16.066*T/O] + [2.559*IC/PS] + [13.357*TTL/ISA] - [4.478], appeared to be more applicable with a 97.3% accuracy rate, while a function from the mandible gave a 64.9% accuracy rate. In conclusion, we suggest that an equation from feline pelvic measurements and three hallmarks, one on the mandible and two on the os coxae, can be used for sex estimation.