Application des analyses multidimensionnelles a l’étude du dimorphisme sexuel des chats harets des îles Kerguelen, en comparaison avec une population de chats domestiques du canton de Berne

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Abstract
The few domestic cats introduced into the Kerguelen Islands rapidly proliferated and their offspring became feral. As these feral cats constitute an ecological pest, they are intensively hunted. Many skulls were collected during an eradication campaign, and their biometrical study, done in comparison with a population of Bern domestic cats, was carried out by 4 methods: profiles, discriminant fonction, generalized distance (D2), and principal component analysis. These analyses show the prevalence of size in sex discrimination, and of conformation in population discrimination. In Kerguelen Islands cats, sexual dimorphism appears to be increased, essentially due to a generalized factor of size, which is high in males. This is interpreted as the result of sexual competition. Females of this population are relatively small, most of them still involved in the growth process. Feral cats have relatively large canines and strong development of the temporal muscles. These 2 characteristics are obviously linked to the predatory activity of these animals.