GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION OF MANDIBLE SIZE AND SHAPE IN THE RYUKYU WILD PIG (SUS SCROFA RIUKIUANUS)

We measured adult mandibles of Ryukyu wild pigs from Amami-Oshima, Kak eroma, Okinawa, Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands. The size dine was not s tatistically recognized among the populations of Nansei Islands. The I shigaki population was significantly larger than Iriomote one in mandi ble length. Some measurement ratios indicated that the ramus is enlarg ed laterally and that the body of mandible is dorso-ventrally develope d in Ishigaki and Iriomote populations. The Amami-Oshima mandibles wer e relatively smaller than those of Okinawa and Iriomote populations in length item of body of mandible. These results will contribute to the zoo-archaeology on the historical change of size and shape in the isl and populations, and to the evolutionary biology on the morphological adaptation of this animal.