Abstract: This paper analyzes sexual differences in metacarpal ( N = 24) and metatarsal ( N = 26) length in adult Macaca mulutta, using one-way ANOVA and multi-variable discriminant function analysis (SPSS 13.0 for Windows). The results indicate that all of the metacarpal and metatarsal lengths show a significant difference between the sexes ( P < 0.00) . The order of average metacarpal length is different between the two sides of the body with the different sexes, but that difference is not significant ( P> 0.05). Using SPSS, the established discriminant functions based on the lengths of metacarpals and metatarsals uses two methods: enter independents together and stepwise. To distinguish between the sexes using the metacarpals gives accuracies of 91.7% ( enter independents together) and 93.8% ( stepwise method) . If both methods are applied the accuracy for metatarsals is 84.6%. This paper has demonstrated that the sex of Macaca mulutta can be identified by assessing discriminant functions based on metacarpal and metatarsal lengths.

Key words: Macaca mulatta; Metacarpals and metatarsals; Length; Sex differences; Discriminant analysis