Study of spanish dove breeds based on the analysis of qualitative morphological characteristics

Objective. To evaluate a possible morphological base that supports a rational and nonarbitrary classification of dove breeds, the phenetic relationship between different breeds was studied. Materials and methods. Twenty nine different dove breeds were submitted for a comparative morphological study, considering each breed as an Operational Taxonomic Unit (OUT), and grouped a priori in morphological and functional affinity groups such as: large crop, Catalonian breeds, Balearic breeds, and morphological doves. A coordinate analysis (ACo) was made based on Gower’s similar distance matrix between OTUs from the analysis of 29 traits. In order to know which were the variables responsible for the observed similarities or differences, a correspondence (Carr) analysis was carried out. Results. The ACo showed that the variability represented by the two first eigen vectors is not high. The Carr showed that many of the variables are strongly related. Conclusions. The distribution of breeds in the Aco points towards a fairly good distribution in the 4 established groups. The Carr demonstrated that the most discriminating variables may be reduced to nine: thickness and beak length, development of nasal and eye caruncles, neck length, crop size and hang, relative tail length, and wing position in relation to the tail at rest position.