ABSTRACT
The sphenoid bone forms the rostral part of the base of the neurocranium and is composed of two segments, the presphenoid [os praesphenoidale] and the basisphenoid [os basisphenoidale]. Rarely studied in osteology, we tested whether it can provide distinctive features between domestic sheep (Ovis aries L., 1758) and goat (Capra hircus L., 1758). For this goal, we studied a sample comprised by 53 dry modern skulls of adult sheep (n = 36) and goat (n = 17) subjects from a modern comparative collection by means of geometric morphometric techniques using a total of 26 anatomical points (2 saggital landmarks and 24 semilandmarks). Results showed that form (size + shape) differences appear between both species: sphenoid among sheep tends to be bigger, longer and wider than in goats, differences of width being mainly located on basisphenoid width.
