Abstract

TAFRA, V. et al. First zoometric and phanaeroptical characterizarion of Magellan sheepdog, Chile. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2014, vol.63, n.242, pp.371-380. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922014000200015.

The goal of the present study was to achieve the first ethnological characterization of the Magellan Sheepdog. This dog is distributed throughout the Magallanes region (48^o37' to 56^o30' south latitude) in Southern Chile where it plays a fundamental role in sheep farming. This dog population is the result of breeding between British sheepdogs arrived in Chile in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and has developed a high adaptation to the Chilean Patagonia climate conditions. Seventy five dogs (43 male and 32 female) were analyzed under morphometric and phanae-roptical criteria. All the dogs were selected by their phenotypical resemblance to Magellan Sheepdog according to local breeder's perceptions. Seventy five dogs were analyzed for the phanaeroptical features. For the morphostructural features only 62 dogs were analyzed. Thirteen dogs between 1-2 years old were excluded from the analysis due to extreme variability. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the Magellan Sheepdog has high morphostructural uniformity, definite sexual dimorphism and an ensemble of phanaeroptical features important to its definition as a different dog breed population. This study is the first zoometric characterization of the Magellan Sheepdog and establishes the foundation for further studies needed to implement the official breed standard.

Keywords : Canine; Ethnology.

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