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Hi variation in the number of vertebrae, most commonly lower thoracic or lumbar occurs in all mammals. There is evidence of a genetic predilection which may translate to breeds (i.e. Arab horses are generally considered to have one less vert - but I haven't seen the evidence for this). Pamela J Cross PhD researcher, Bioarchaeology Horses of Men & Gods project (AHRC, NT & MoL) Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP UK p.j.cross (at) student.bradford.ac.uk / pajx (at) aol.com http://www.barc.brad.ac.uk/resstud_Cross.php _http://bradford.academia.edu/PamCross_ (http://bradford.academia.edu/PamCross) Below are some ref's which may be of interest: DAVIS, S. J. M.; 2000; The Effect of Castration and Age on the Development of the Shetland Sheep Skeleton and a Metric Comparison Between Bones of Males, Females and Castrates; Journal of Archaeological Science; 27(5): 373-390. DYCE, K., SACK, W. & WENSING, C. 2009. - Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy. Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis. GREENFIELD, H. J. & ARNOLD, E. R.; 2008; Absolute age and tooth eruption and wear sequences in sheep and goat: determining age-at-death in zooarchaeology using a modern control sample; Journal of Archaeological Science; 35(4): 836-849. NODDLE, B.; 1974; Ages of epiphyseal closure in feral and domestic goats and ages of dental eruption; Journal of Archaeological Science; 1(2): 195-204. POPKIN, P. R. W., BAKER, P., WORLEY, F., PAYNE, S. & HAMMON, A.; 2012; The Sheep Project (1): determining skeletal growth, timing of epiphyseal fusion and morphometric variation in unimproved Shetland sheep of known age, sex, castration status and nutrition; Journal of Archaeological Science; 39(6): 1775-1792. PRUMMEL, W. & FRISCH, H.-J.; 1986; A guide to the distinction of species, sex and body side in bones of sheep and goats; Journal of Archaeological Science; 13: 567–578. ZEDER, M. A. 2006. - 6. Reconciling Rates of Long Bone Fusion and Tooth Eruption and Wear in Sheep (Ovis) and Goat (Capra), in D. Ruscillo (ed) Recent advances in ageing and sexing animal bones. Proceedings of the 9th Conference of the International Council of Archaeozoology. Oxbow, Oxford: 87-118. In a message dated 09/10/2012 10:01:26 GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Hello Zooarchers, Could you help me out? I have three questions regarding sheep: - Is there a reference for reconstructing size of sheep from other bones than metacapals/matatarsals? I have a series of sub-complete skeletons for which only the head and lower limbs are missing (cut off under the carpals/tarsals)... - Does any one know how long have polled breeds (both male and female) existed? - Apparently, sheep can have either 6 or 7 lumbar vertebrae. Is that breed-related? Does any one have any information on the chronologic evolution of this caracteristic? Thanks in advance for your help! All the best, Annelise