Abstract
The multivariate comparisons of 116 skeletal specimans of fowls were carried out using 30 measurements to examine the phylogenetic relationship between 9 breeds of Japanese native fowls (Gifujidori, Hinaidori, Shokoku, Totenko, Satsumadori, Koeyoshi, Shamo, Koshamo and Tomaru), Red jungle fowl and White Leghorn. The morphometric relations obtained on the principal component charts were as follows: (1) Based on the first component (size vector), there was an overlapping of Satsumadori, Shamo and Koeyoshi, whereas based on the second component (shape vector), Satsumadori was separated from the other two breeds and took the place close to Shokoku. (2) Totenko overlapped Shokoku in the first component, but situated close to Tomaru in the second component. (3) The situation of Hinaidori was closer to White Leghorn than to Shamo not only in size but also in shape. (4) Gifujidori ws separated from Red jungle fowl in the second component.
