EN
The aim of the morphological research was to attempt to characterize the peripheral part of the pelvis limb of domesticated ducks in relation to their age and sex. Research was conducted on the bone material of domestic Peking ducks (Anas platyrhynchos f. domestica Linnaeus 1758) derived from 84 8-week-old ducks (42 males and 40 females) and 40 ducks over eight weeks old (6 males and 34 females). All the birds were from a water-fowl farm. The bones were cooked in a 3% solution of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), bleached with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and then dried at room temperature (16-20°C). The research concentrated on the bones of the peripheral part of the pelvis limb and, in particular, on a detailed morphological analysis of the bones of the left limb. Features typical of the species as well as changes concerning dimorphism and ontogeny were analysed. Statistically significant major differences were found between analogical bone parameters in adult males and females. No changes related to sexual dimorphism were observed in the cases of phalanx I greatest length (GL) and breadth of the proximal end (Bp), phalanx II of toe I and breadth of the proximal end (Bp), phalanx II of toe II and greatest length (GL), breadth of the proximal end (Bp), phalanx III of toe III and breadth of the proximal end (Bp). Dimorphic changes were also not found in phalanx I greatest length (GL), phalanx II greatest length (GL), phalanx III greatest length (GL), phalanx V of toe IV. No sexual dimorphism in relation to the tarsal-metatarsal bone was found among young ducks. In this group of birds statistically significant differences were found for phalanx III greatest length (GL), breadth of the proximal end (Bp), phalanx IV of toe III greatest length (GL), breadth of the proximal end (Bp). While analyzing the structure of toe IV, sexual dimorphism was found only in the case of phalanx IV and breadth of the proximal end (Bp).