Abstract

A comparison in skull size and shape was done in two species of the genus Sylvilagus (31 S. brasiliensis Linnaeus, 1758, and 16 S. floridanus Allen, 1890) from Colombia using geometric morphometrics. In each specimen, 12 landmarks were fixed in digital images from dorsal aspect, and we tested if there were interspecific differences for allometric size variations. Skull shape variation was clearly allometric for both species, with no significant differences between species. Since the area of the skull to which the masticatory muscles are attached is closely linked to the functional aspects of food acquisition and processing, the allometric similitudes detected between these species may suggest no differences in food habit, a logical conclusion as both species are allopatric.

Keywords: Allometry, Cottontail rabbit, Forest rabbit, Neotropics, Tapiti