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CRANIAL AND DENTAL MORPHOMETRICS OF SELECTED CARNIVORE SPECIES FROM KING ABDULAZIZ ROYAL RESERVE, SAUDI ARABIA

Authors:  Abdulrahaman S. Alzahrani¹, Mahmoud I. Younes^2,*, Othman M. Bin Humed², Mohammad A. Albasri², Turki Alsaleem¹, Saber A. Riad², Hussein Hassan Alkhamis², Abdullah M. Alowaifeer^1,* and Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei^3,*

Published 19 December 2023 Volume 1:1 Pages 276-290

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Peer reviewer comments 2

¹The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve (KARR), Riyadh 12213, Saudi Arabia; a.alzahrani@karnr.gov.sa (A.S.A.); t.alsaleem@karnr.gov.sa (T.A.)

²Green Sustainability Company for Environmental Services (GSCES), Riyadh 13326, Saudi Arabia; myounes@gsces.sa (M.I.Y.); o.binhumed@gmail.com (O.M.B.); mohmmad-0-50@hotmail.com (M.A.A.); saber@gsces.sa (S.A.R.); hussein@gsces.sa (H.H.A.)

³Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

*Correspondence: myounes@gsces.sa, myounes@gsces.sa (M.I.Y.); a.alowaifeer@.gov.sa

(A.M.A.); afrefaei@ksu.edu.sa (A.F.A.)

Abstract

The present work represents a descriptive morphometric baseline study for three carnivore species. Carnivore species inhabiting the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve (KARR) exhibit notable morphological adaptations that reflect their ecological niches and habitat preferences. This study aims to describe and compare the cranial and dental morphology of selected carnivore species in the reserve, highlighting structural differences related to habitat use and ecological function. Fifty-five cranial and mandibular measurements were done for skulls and mandibles of three carnivore species: the Arabian red fox, Vulpes vulpes arabica, the wildcat, Felis lybica, and the honey badger, Mellivora capensis. Key parameters measured included skull length, zygomatic breadth, braincase depth, and mandibular length, alongside qualitative morphological observations. The Arabian red fox exhibited a robust skull with an oval braincase wider than high, with greatest skull length of 123.92 mm. The wildcat showed a smaller skull (87.40 mm), with well-developed postorbital processes and an upturned mandible. In contrast, the honey badger displayed a large and heavy skull (115.66 mm). The observed cranial and dental differences among species suggest adaptations to their respective habitats and ecological roles, emphasizing the influence of environmental conditions on carnivore morphology within the reserve.