scholarly journals Reproduction and growth in a Neotropical arboreal mouse: Oecomys rutilus (Sigmodontinae: Cricetidae) in French Guiana

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
François Catzeflis
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
French Guiana ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Crystalline Lens ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Morphometric Measurements ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Hind Foot

Abstract: Postnatal growth and development of the small Neotropical mouse Oecomys rutilus (Sigmodontinae: Cricetidae) were investigated from birth to day 143, in the laboratory. Morphometric measurements at age of 3 days, of both sexes combined, revealed body weight to be 3.4 ± 0.3 g, mean tail length as 27.4 ± 1.1 mm, and mean hind foot length as 9.3 ± 0.7 mm. Body weight was found to increase steadily until at least 69 days, whereas the instantaneous growth rates of other measurements declined earlier: the daily growth of hind foot length declined to a minimum at age of 24 days, and the growth of tail and of ear declined by the age of 33 days. Average litter size for 12 captive births was 2.5, ranging from 2 to 3. The preserved eye crystalline lens was weighted in 23 captive-born animals of known age, allowing a rough estimate of the age of reproduction in wild-caught animals. Based on the inferred relation between eye-lens weight and age, the youngest reproductive (pregnant) wild-caught females had an estimated age of 90 and 95 days.

Somatic characteristics and reproduction potential of snow vole and Tatra vole (Rodentia) in Slovakia

Biologia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Baláž ◽  
Michal Ambros
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
The Body ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Chionomys Nivalis ◽  
Reproduction Season ◽  
Hind Foot

AbstractSomatic features (morphometric or meristic features, i.e., body weight, length of body, tail, hind foot and ear) and reproduction characteristics (number of embryos in uterus, reproduction potential, duration of reproduction season) are the basic attributes of the biology of a species. In the present paper, biometry of somatic characteristics and reproduction potential of two mountain vole species, the Tatra vole (Microtus tatricus) and the snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) which originate from various sites of Slovakia, were investigated. Among somatic features, the body length, tail length, hind foot length, length of ear and body weight were assessed. The highest variability was found in body length and the lowest one in the hind foot length. These characteristics were evaluated separately for sub-adult and adult individuals, and males and females. Values of somatic features and body weight of both species are larger in males than in females. Throughout the life of these rodents, the ratio between the length of tail and length of body does not vary considerably. The reproductive potential of the two species is, compared to other small mammals, very low and the length of reproductive season is shorter in the extreme conditions of the mountain environment. Thanks to a sufficient data set, it was possible to evaluate the influence of altitude on somatic features as well as on reproduction potential of M. tatricus and it was found that the average values of somatic features and body weight increased with increasing altitude.

scholarly journals Biometric Analysis of Cranial and Somatic Features in the Pannonian Root Vole

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 576
Author(s):  
Ivan Baláž ◽  
Filip Tulis ◽  
Michal Ševčík
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Cranial Base ◽  
Biometric Analysis ◽  
Root Vole ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
Glacial Relict

The Pannonian root vole Alexandromys oeconomus ssp. mehelyi represents a rare glacial relict, whose occurrence is nowadays bound to several areas in Europe. Four somatic and 25 craniological features were analysed, based on 355 measured specimens. Sex is a significant factor affecting the average value of all four somatic features, where all of them achieve higher values in males than in females. While body length and tail length were also affected by seasons, body weight and the length of the hind foot were stable features present across the seasons. In cranial features, the largest variability in the adult population is characterised by neurocranium breadth (LaN), total length of the cranial base (LB), and skull (LCr); whereas the smallest variability of the cranial dimensions is reflected in the values of the greatest palatal breadth (PS) and postorbital breadth (Io). Calculating the weight from cranial remains may be used to estimate the size of the prey and to determine vole biomass consumed by predators, such as raptors, highlighting the utility of studying feeding ecology.

scholarly journals Are there sex differences in the body size of the Eurasian red squirrel in Slovakia?

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Čanády ◽  
Ladislav Mošanský ◽  
Peter Krišovský
Keyword(s):  
Function Analysis ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
The Body ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Sexual Interaction ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
Males And Females

Abstract Sexual dimorphism of the Eurasian red squirrel on five somatic variables (head-and-body length, tail length, hind foot length, ear length and body weight) was evaluated on 55 squirrels. The overlap of values of the measured traits among sexes was high, but in all traits (with exception of the tail length) males seem to exhibit slightly higher mean values than females. However, these differences were non-significant, with the exception of a small significant difference in the tail length and tail-to-head-and-body ratio. Similarly, the results of discriminant function analysis show no differences between the sexes. Positive correlation analyses, together with PCA values, confirmed that tail length and hind foot length are traits that play a significant role in overall variability. We suggest that this relationship could explain their mutual importance in locomotion, where the feet are essential for movement in the trees. By contrast, the tail maintains balance on thin branches, or during jumps from one crown to another. Longer tails also demonstrate differential selection on males and females for a locomotor trait. Similarly, we discuss whether variations in tail length were connected to female reproductive success. Our results suggest that the non-significant results regarding SSD provide the benefit of the same size for both sexes in the protection of territory as well as inter- and intra-sexual interaction.

Physical and behavioral postnatal development of woodchucks (Marmota monax)

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1040-1047 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ferron ◽  
J.-P. Ouellet
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Postnatal Development ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
Behavioral Development ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Behavioral Repertoire ◽  
Marmota Monax

The physical and behavioral postnatal development of woodchucks (Marmota monax) was analyzed from birth to 42 days of age, the age at which weaning begins. Postnatal growth was evaluated by means of daily measurements of body weight, body length, tail length, and length of hind foot. Data on length of ear pinnae, vibrissae, and fur, and on the timing of appearance of some events of physical development are also presented. We considered postnatal development of locomotion, alertness, exploratory behavior, feeding, and comfort and social behavior. Our results indicate no sexual dimorphism in body size in young woodchucks, despite its occurrence in adults. Intraspecific comparisons reveal that woodchucks from different populations show marked variation in growth rate. The high level of intraspecific variation in developmental rates of sciurid rodents provides a warning to those performing interspecific comparisons. The data also suggest that the ratio of growth rate to adult body weight is not related to environmental severity. Behavioral development in M. monax is similar to that of ground squirrels but faster than that of tree squirrels and flying squirrels. There is also no direct relationship between size and timing of behavioral development in sciurid rodents. The behavioral repertoire of young woodchucks is simpler than that of young Spermophilus lateralis, another asocial species. It is possible that specific differences in rates of development of social interactions led to such differentiation in the repertoire of social behavior.

Morphological variation in deer mice in relation to sex and habitat

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuhua Xia ◽  
John S. Millar
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
Similar Body ◽  
Juvenile Males

Peromyscus maniculatus borealis were collected in two habitats with contrasting physiognomic features in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta, in the summer of 1983. We tested for differences between sexes and habitats using 4 body measurements (body length, tail length, hind foot length, and ear length) and 10 cranial (including mandibular) measurements of 222 and 192 adult P. m. borealis, respectively. Body measurements of 132 juveniles and five cranial (including mandibular) measurements from 124 juvenile skulls were analysed similarly. When differences in body length were controlled, adult males had significantly longer hind feet than adult females. The mandible was also significantly longer in adult males than in adult females. We interpreted the longer hind foot length in adult males as an adaptation to provide greater mobility, and the differences in mandibular morphology as a consequence of differential habitat use between the two sexes. No significant differences were found between juvenile males and females. Sexual dimorphism appeared to be age dependent rather than size dependent when adults and juveniles of similar body size were analysed.

Variation in the long-tailed field-mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus (L.)) in north-west Scotland I. Comparisons of individual characters

1964 ◽  
Vol 161 (983) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Tail Length ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Field Mouse ◽  
North West ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Outer Hebrides ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
Nasal Length

Earlier workers have suggested that a distinct species of long-tailed field-mouse ( Apodemus hebridensis (de Winton)) occurs in the Inner and Outer Hebrides of north-west Scotland. They have further claimed that ten subspecies of A. hebridensis can be recognized although no one island has been recorded as supporting more than one subspecies. The present paper attempts to examine by comparison of individual characters the extent of differentiation between various island and mainland populations. A total of 470 specimens of Apodemus were collected between July and September in 1957 to 1960. The mainland localities were Applecross in Wester Ross and Laga, Ardnamurchan, Argyllshire. Collections were made from the Islands of Raasay, Rhum, Mull, Colonsay, Lewis, North Uist, South Uist and Barra. In the analyses of differences between the various populations the following measurements were used : occipito-nasal length, tail length, hind foot length, weight, length of tooth row, tooth wear, incisor width, length of pectoral stripe, values and chroma. The last two are measures of colour using Munsell notation. The pectoral stripe measurement was analysed using a logarithmic transformation. The means have been calculated of each character for every locality. Tooth wear is a measure of age and a regression adjustment was used to bring all other characters to a uniform age class. The variance ratio (between localities)/(within localities), and the standard errors of the differences between each pair of localities have been calculated from the adjusted values for each character. Regression coefficients of weight, tail length, hind foot length, pectoral stripe length, tooth row length and incisor width on occipito-nasal length are given for each locality and the differences between localities have been tested statistically. Finally, means adjusted to a common occipito-nasal length have been computed together with their standard errors. The results suggest that size differences account for a large amount of the variation between island stocks. There are also other differences between localities. The mice from certain groups of localities show close affinity to each other although the groups are not sharply defined. There is no clear overall island pattern that readily separates these mice from those from the mainland.

scholarly journals Age estimation of pouch young and growth of the burrowing bettong, Bettongia lesueur, (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Freegard ◽  
M.C. Calver ◽  
J.D. Richards ◽  
J.S. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Growth Function ◽  
Slow Phase ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Rapid Phase ◽  
Shark Bay ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Hind Foot

Measurements of hind foot length, weight, head length and tail length were collected from pouch young, young at foot, sub-adults and adults of a reintroduced population of the vulnerable burrowing bettong, Bettongia lesueur, on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia. A key based on qualitative characteristics was used to age individuals and a Richards growth function was fitted to plots of hind foot length versus age. The patterns of growth and morphological characteristics were similar for males and females. Both sexes exhibited a growth pattern typical of a medium-sized macropod with an initial slow phase of growth followed by a rapid phase that slowed as adult size was reached. The growth curves are suitable for broad estimates of the age of wild-caught animals from pouch young to early adulthood.

A METHOD FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF WILD UNGULATES

1956 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Bandy ◽  
I. McT. Cowan ◽  
W. D. Kitts ◽  
A. J. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Wild Ungulates ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus Columbianus ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
The Relationship

A study has been made of the relationship existing between heart girth and body weight and hind foot length and body weight of growing Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). From the results obtained, a method has been proposed for the assessment of the nutritional status of wild ungulates. This method involves a comparison of ratios of body weight estimated from heart girth to body weight estimated from hind foot length.

Shrews (Sorex spp.) somatometry and reproduction in Slovakia

Biologia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Baláž ◽  
Michal Ambros
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Sorex Araneus ◽  
Mating Season ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Variable Characteristic ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
Sorex Minutus

AbstractThe morphometrics and reproduction of shrews (Sorex araneus, S. minutus, S. alpinus) was studied in Slovakia. Significant differences in weight, body length and tail length were recorded in adult and subadult shrews. Adult individuals and males had higher mean somatometric values (apart from tail length of subadults). The hind foot length was the least variable characteristic, which can be considered as the most stable taxonomic somatic characteristic of shrews. Weight and body length varied considerably. Values of somatic characteristics in S. araneus and S. minutus increased with increasing altitude, apart from hind foot length in S. araneus, which decreased with increasing altitude. The values of somatic characteristics declined with increasing continentality, but tail length gradually increased in the direction west — east at the highland level. Sorex minutus was characterized by the greatest reproductive activity (length of reproductive cycle April–October, average number of embryos 6.97). The lowest reproductive activity was observed in S. alpinus (average number of embryos 5.72). The mating season of S. araneus began at the end of March and ended in August with an average number of embryos of 6.12.

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BARREN GROUND CARIBOU: I. HEART GIRTH, HIND FOOT LENGTH, AND BODY WEIGHT RELATIONSHIPS

1966 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. McEwan ◽  
A. J. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Body Proportions ◽  
Barren Ground ◽  
Foot Length ◽  
Hind Foot ◽  
Nutritional Environment ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Groenlandicus

The changes in body weight and body proportions associated with growth in well-nourished captive barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) are described. Corresponding changes in free ranging wild caribou from the same population are compared with those obtained from the captive specimens. Body weight:hind foot length and body weight:heart girth ratios relative to age are examined as possible parameters for expressing the extent of developmental restriction imposed on the wild caribou by their nutritional environment.

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