Somatic characteristics and reproduction of common vole, Microtus arvalis (Microtus arvalis

Biologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Baláž

AbstractReproduction potential and biometry of somatic characteristics of the common vole Microtus arvalis were evaluated and discussed. The results were processed on the basis of an extensive material (2,171 individuals) from the whole territory of Slovakia (315 sites situated at altitudes from 100 to 1500 m above sea level). Among the somatic characteristics studied, the highest variability was found in body length and the smallest in hind foot length. Highly significant differences were also found between the foot length of adult males and females. Populations of M. arvalis at low altitudes were less numerous than at higher altitudes. Altitudinal differences in average embryo numbers in female uteri as well as differences in follicle length in males during the reproductive season were also observed.

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuhua Xia ◽  
John S. Millar

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.


2007 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 1161-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Deter ◽  
J.-F. Cosson ◽  
Y. Chaval ◽  
N. Charbonnel ◽  
S. Morand

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Čanády ◽  
Ladislav Mošanský ◽  
Peter Krišovský

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.


Oikos ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Mackin-Rogalska ◽  
Leszek Nabagło ◽  
Leszek Nabaglo

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatsugu Suzuki ◽  
Manabu Onuma ◽  
Mayumi Yokoyama ◽  
Koich Kaji ◽  
Masami Yamanaka ◽  
...  

Measurements of shoulder height, body length, hind-foot length, and total body mass were collected from 309 Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis Heude, 1884) (115 males and 194 females) and analyzed statistically for sexual dimorphism and seasonal body mass fluctuations. The von Bertalanffy equation was fitted to the growth curves that resulted. Asymptotic shoulder height, body length, and hind-foot length were 106.2, 112.6, and 52.9 cm in males and 94.8, 103.9, and 49.4 cm in females, respectively. Total body mass showed distinct seasonal fluctuations, ranging between 102.8 and 151.0 kg in adult males and 68.0 and 99.8 kg in adult females. Male/female ratios in shoulder height, body length, hind-foot length, and total mass were 1.12, 1.08, 1.07, and 1.51, respectively. These results indicate that the Hokkaido sika deer is one of the largest subspecies, at least in skeleton size. A larger body and longer hind foot would seem to be evolutionary adaptations to Hokkaido's cold, snowy environment.


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