Applications of geometric morphometric analysis in describing sexual dimorphism in shell shapes in Vivipara angularis Muller (Family Viviparidae)

Prior studies have shown different insights about sexual shell dimorphism in the snails of family Viviparidae. This study was conductedto evaluate and determine the occurence of sexual dimorphism and shape variation in the shells of the viviparid snail, Vivipara angularisMuller, from three characters (ventral/aperture, dorsal, and top/whorl) using geometric morphometric analyses. All the three shell charactersexhibited significant sexual shell dimorphism, this may be due to adaptations for brooding of the viviparid snails. Results indicate employmentof different shell characters subjected to geometric morphometric analysis other than the aperture, in order to discriminate between sexes ofthe snails accurately.