TESTICULAR ASYMMETRY AND SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS IN RED JUNGLEFOWL

The left testis tends to be larger than the right in most avian specie s. Moller (1994) hypothesized that the degree of directional asymmetry in the testes should be greater in high-quality males and hence shoul d be positively correlated with secondary sexual traits. We examined b oth directional and absolute testicular asymmetry in Red Junglefowl (G allus gallus), as well as the size of the left and of the larger testi s, to determine whether these measures correlated with any of several potential phenotypic indicators of male quality. Such indicators inclu ded comb size; body size and condition; and fluctuating asymmetry in s keletal, plumage, and ornamental head traits (because fluctuating asym metry may reflect an individual's ability to overcome developmental st resses). We found no evidence to support Moller's (1994) hypothesis of a relationship between directional testicular asymmetry and our measu res of male quality. Moreover, there was little evidence to suggest a relationship between absolute testicular asymmetry size of the left te stis, or size of the largest testis and any measure of male quality. F inally, unlike some other studies, we did not find a tendency for the left testis to be larger than the right. Only 4 of 16 sexually mature males had a larger left testis at 10 months of age, whereas 10 of 19 m ales had a larger left testis at 12 months of age.