Morphometric and Internal Measurement of African Mourning Doves at Elssuki Area, Sinnar State Sudan

Abstract

The African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens decipiens) is the most widespread species of Columbidae in Africa. There is little research done on this species in Sudan. This study was conducted in 15/12/2016 to 29/3/2017, at Elssuki area, N 13 19 0 E 33 52 60, Sinnar state, Sudan. The aims of this study are to assess the morphometric (body weight, bill, tarsus, tail, wing, head and culmen length) and physiological variation of African mourning dove (Streptopelia decipiens decipiens). Twenty birds were captured by traditional traps from Alssuki city and around Hamadna allah village 11 km from Elssuki. Morphological measurement like body weight, the tall of the tail, bill, bill with ahead, wings and tarsus were measured using ruler and registered in a sheet. Internal parts were also measures, the tall of intestine and kidneys, the heart, liver and gizzard were weighed using sensitive balance. There is significant variation between the bird in body weight, the tall of morphological feature and external one. The sample from Hamadna allah reflect higher weigh and of tall of both internal or external parts. It was agreed with some studies in other parts of the world of morphometric variation but on other hands showed that there is a relationship between body weight and some internal parts like gizzard weight. The difference may be attributed to genetic characters, or type, or availability of food or food quality, and habitat differentiation.