Abstract
Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a widespread phenomenon in different animal taxa, including the subfamily of goats and sheep (Caprinae). Rensch’s rule describes the pattern of SSD, claiming that larger species generally exhibits higher male to female body size ratio.
To test this rule, we analysed the data available in the literature on adult body mass of males and females in domestic goat and sheep breeds (169 and 303, respectively) and 37 wild species/subspecies of the subfamily Caprinae. Domestication has led to a remarkable decline in SSD of both domestic goats and sheep.
The highest regression slope of the relationship between male and female body size is that estimated for wild goats, followed by wild sheep, non-European chamoises, domestic sheep and domestic goats. Nevertheless, only the last two values are statistically different from one and thus corroborate Rensch’s rule.