IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group Library

IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library

View printer friendly
Sikes, R.S.; Kennedy, M.L.
Morphologic variation of the bobcat in the Eastern United States and its association with selected environmental variables
1992 American Midland Naturalist (128): 313-324
Cranial characters of bobcats (_Felis rufus_) from the eastern United States were examined using univariate and multivariate techniques to assess morphologic variation and to identify relationships among morphologic features and selected environmental variables. The patterns of variation produced using principal component analysis indicated that larger males occurred in northern and eastern localities, whereas N-central localities produced the largest females. The smallest individuals of both sexes occurred in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Comparisons of matrices for overall environmental variation and variation of individual environmental variables with matrices of morphologic variation showed a higher degree of correlation for females than for males. These results suggest that variation in female morphology may be under somewhat different selective constraints than corresponding variation in males.
	PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here