Radiographic Analysis of Skull in Van Cats, British Shorthairs and Scottish Folds

Abstract

The most significant bone used in taxonomic research is the skull. This study at- tempted to identify differences between the three cat species by measuring the skulls of each using computed tomography sections. The study used a total of 32 cat skulls, including 16 Van Cats, eight British Shorthairs and eight Scottish Folds. Van Cat had the highest values for cranial and skull length, whereas British Shorthair had the low- est values. The difference between the British Shorthair and Scottish Fold skull length and cranial length measures was not statistically significant. However, the Van Cat skull length result was statistically different from other species (p < 0.05). Scottish Fold had the broadest head (cranial width: 41.02 +/- 0.79 mm). These results demon- strated that the scull of the Van Cat was longer but thinner than that of other species. In comparison to other species, the form of the Scottish Fold skull was more rounded. Internal height of cranium measurements for Van Cat and British Shorthair were sta- tistically significant. In Van Cats, this measurement was 27.81 +/- 1.58 mm, while in British Shorthairs, it was 30.23 +/- 1.89 mm. Measurements of the foremen magnum were not statistically significant for any species. Van Cat's measures for the fora -men magnum were the highest (Foramen magnum height: 11.59 +/- 0.93 mm; Foramen magnum width: 14.18 +/- 0.70 mm). Scottish Fold had the highest cranial index (Cranial index: 55.50 +/- 4.02). Van Cat had the lowest value for this (Cranial index: 50.19 +/- 2.16). Van Cat's cranial index value differed statistically from that of other species (p < 0.05). Between species, the foramen magnum index was not significant. None of the index values were statistically significant for Scottish Fold and British Shorthair. Foramen magnum width had the highest age- to-measurement value correlation (r = 0.310), although it was statistically insignificant. Skull length had the highest weight- to-measurement value correlations (R = 0.809), and it proved to be statistically signifi- cant. Skull length was the measuring value that distinguished male and female the most clearly (p = 0.000).