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THE DEVELOPING ZOO WORLD
Using biometric measurements to predict the gender of Chilean flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis at Dublin Zoo
Article first published online: 31 JAN 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-1090.2011.00163.x
© 2012 The Authors. International Zoo Yearbook © 2012 The Zoological Society of London
Additional Information
How to Cite
Phillips, P. and Mc Dermott, L. (2012), Using biometric measurements to predict the gender of Chilean flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis at Dublin Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook, 46: 189–194. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1090.2011.00163.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 23 APR 2012
- Article first published online: 31 JAN 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 28 OCT 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 11 AUG 2011
- Manuscript Received: 24 FEB 2011
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- biometrics;
- Chilean flamingo;
- gender prediction;
- tarsus length
The aim of the study was to try to find a quick and cost-effective way of predicting the gender of adult Chilean flamingos Phoenicopterus chilensis using biometric measurements alone. Three biometric measurements (tarsus length, flat wing length and body mass) were taken from a group of 68 [38.30 (♂.♀)] Chilean flamingos of known sex at Dublin Zoo. The measurements were compared to see which if any of them were useful in predicting the gender of individual birds. Only maximum tarsus length provided a useful measurement in predicting gender. Maximum tarsus measurement alone was enough to predict the sex of over 94% of adult birds. All adult birds with a tarsus length of ≥26·0 cm were ♂. All adult birds with a tarsus length of ≤25·5 cm were ♀.