A comparative analysis of sphenoid bone between domestic sheep (ovis aries) and goat (capra hircus) using geometric morphometrics

The sphenoid bone forms the rostral part of the base of the neurocranium and is composed of two segments, the presphenoid os praesphenoidale] and the basisphenoid os basisphenoidale]. Rarely studied in osteology, we tested whether it can provide distinctive features between domestic sheep (Ovis aries L., 1758) and goat (Capra hircus L., 1758). For this goal, we studied a sample comprised by 53 dry modern skulls of adult sheep (n = 36) and goat (n = 17) subjects from a modern comparative collection by means of geometric morphometric techniques using a total of 26 anatomical points (2 saggital landmarks and 24 semilandmarks). Results showed that form (size + shape) differences appear between both species: sphenoid among sheep tends to be bigger, longer and wider than in goats, differences of width being mainly located on basisphenoid width.