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The most significant bone used in taxonomic research is the skull. This study attempted 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 lowest 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 demonstrated 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 statistically 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 foramen 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 significant. Skull length was the measuring value that distinguished male and female the most clearly (p = 0.000). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The aim of the study was to determine the morphological and morphometrical features of the auditory ossicles in the red fox. Moreover, for the first time, shape analysis was performed on all the middle ear bones by geometric morphometry. The auditory ossicles play a vital role in transmitting sound waves through the middle ear. The malleus was considered to be the largest bone, with three distinctive processes. The overall shape of the incus was found to be similar to that in other mammals. The presence of a prominent muscular process was noted on the head of the stapes and the convex base which closes the window of the inner ear. The use of carnivores as experimental models in auditory biology has led to a significant improvement regarding our understanding of the structure and function of the ear. Considering that data regarding the anatomy of the middle ear in the red fox are rare, this study aimed to describe the morphological and morphometrical features of the auditory ossicles in the red fox, as well as to provide their shape characteristics by geometric analysis. Nine adult red foxes were used in the study. The malleus, incus and stapes were extracted from the middle ear, prepared, photographed and measured using the software. For the geometric analysis, 19 landmarks were used. Following Principal Component Analysis (PCA), PC1 was found to explain approximately half of all variance (incus: 49.97%; malleus: 49.93%; stapes: 58.49%). The study demonstrated the similar anatomical organization of the auditory ossicles in line with important morphometric and basic geometric data, which can contribute to this field and add a useful perspective to the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi is the property of University of Kafkas, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)