Osteo-Morphometry in Ouled-Djellal White Arab Sheep: Age-Related Correlations between Mandible, Skull and Body Measurements

The Ouled Djellal White Arab sheep is the predominant breed in the Algerian steppes and high plains, known for its adaptability and meat production. This study examines correlations between mandibular, body, and craniometric measurements in two age groups to establish a reference dataset for archaeozoological applications. Thirty female Ouled Djellal sheep, evenly divided into young adults (۲–۴ years) and adults (>۴ years), were examined. Eight body measurements were recorded pre-slaughter, followed by eight mandibular and sixteen craniometric measurements after bone preparation, with four indices subsequently calculated. Significant correlations were observed between mandibular and body measurements, and between mandibular and craniometric parameters. Correlations were more numerous and stronger in adults (ranging from ۰.۴۷ to ۰.۷۰) than in young adults (from ۰.۴۱ to ۰.۶۷). While differences in covariation strength were observed between age groups, some correlations, such as those between thoracic perimeter (TP) and mental foramen length (ML۶), and between head length (hL) and aboral height of the ascending branch (MH۱) persisted across age groups. Dentition-related measurements correlated more frequently in adults, reflecting skeletal  maturity, whereas variability in young adults indicated ongoing growth. These findings highlight the importance of age considerations in morphometric analysis and provide reference data for estimating body size and cranial dimensions from mandible measurements, contributing to archaeozoological studies of North African ancient specimens.

Keywords:

Archaeozoology , correlations , craniometry , Sheep