The objectives of this study was to compare morphological characteristics and to establish evolutionary relationship of 14 Thai dwarf buffaloes and 21 swamp buffaloes based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop variations. Morphological characteristics could be constructed phylomorphologic tree and showed clearly classified between dwarf and swamp buffaloes. Most of morphologic traits were highly significant difference adult contest swamp buffaloes (P LT 0.01) from 9 contest swamp buffaloes. Only morphological traits of length between eye, length between base of horn, horn length and horn width were not significant difference (P GT 0.05). Average shoulder height of Thai dwarf buffaloes were 108.33+-2.08 cm, whereas average shoulder height of contest swamp buffaloes were 156.78+-4.21 cm. Thai dwarf buffaloes would be defined as disproportional dwarfism. Sequences of mtDNA D-loop (374 bp) of dwarf and normal swamp buffaloes with reference sequences showed 84 polymorphic sites and defined as 12 and 11 haplotypes, respectively. It was noticed that transversion in Thai dwarf buffaloes occurred twice time of normal swamp buffaloes. Phylogenetic tree showed 2 clades of water buffaloes. Swamp buffaloes were classified into lineage A and lineage B, in which lineage A was more predominant than lineage B. Median joining network showed 2 clades of river and swamp buffaloes. Swamp buffalo (SaenCP) in lineage A1 seem to be ancestral node of some Thai swamp buffaloes, Chinese swamp buffaloes and Philippines carabao. Most of dwarf swamp buffaloes were in lineage A2 and dwarf swamp buffalo with no horn, black color- coat was latter evolution.

The liver was located in the cranial part of the abdomen, immediately behind the diaphragm, entirely to the righty of the median plane, situated in an oblique downwards and forwards. The liver was consisted of two surfaces and four borders. The parietal surface was irregularly convex having falciform and coronary ligaments, which were attached to the diaphragm. The visceral surface was irregularly concave, which consisted an upper and large omasal impression, lower and narrow reticular impression, and abomasal impression was present in the right ventral area. The lesser omentum was extended from the esophageal notch to the portal fissure. The dorsal border was short and thick having deep renal impression on caudal lobe. Ventral border was short, thin and convex. The lateral border was thin and median border was thick to which esophageal notch was present.

In order to evaluate and compare the properties of type traits in Khuzestani and Azeri river buffaloes, 148 and 336 Khuzestani and Azeri buffaloes were used, respectively. Animals were evaluated for traits such as Height at Withers, Body depth, Body length, Heart girth, Hip width, Pin width and Hip to Pin length. The averages for these traits in Khuzestani breed were 145.2+-6.63, 78.27+-5.43, 140.5+-10.05, 208.87+-13.75, 57+-4.44, 25.29+-3.03 and 44+-2.97 cm and in Azeri breed were 138.93+-6.39, 76.4+-5.61, 136.22+-10.05, 184+-13.66, 54.96+-4.85, 26.43+-3.94 and 43.8+-3.44 cm, respectively. The effect of breed on height at withers, heart girth and hip width was quite significant (P LT 0.001) and values for these traits in Khuzestani breed was higher than Azeri. The effect of parity number for all studied traits was significant (P LT 0.001), except for the heart girth. Heifers had the lowest values among different age groups and differences in this group increased with increasing age and parity. Also, the effects of province as a factor for climate and culture circumstances on studied traits was quite significant (P LT 0.001), except for the heart girth and hip to Pin length. Buffaloes in Guilan province had lowest and buffaloes in Khuzestan and Kermanshah provinces had the highest values.