No abstract

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.

Ten free-ranging female sika deer (Cervus nippon) were captured to obtain the reference values for acid-base status and blood gas when immobilized with the combination of medetomidine and ketamine. The mean Ϯ SE of PaCO 2 , PaO 2 , and HCO 3 Ϫ were 58.1 Ϯ 6.1 mmHg, 58.8 Ϯ 6.4 mmHg, and 36.0 Ϯ 4.4 mmol/l, respectively. Although acidosis and alkalosis occurred in three and two animals, respectively, no serious conditions were observed. The blood values, however, suggest that some degree of hypoxemia and respiratory acidosis with metabolic alkalosis are developed. The trapped deer showed a significantly higher than normal rectal temperature reflective of exertion.

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.Résumé : La hauteur et la longueur du corps, la longueur du pied arrière et la masse totale ont été relevés chez 309 (115 mâles et 194 femelles) cerfs (Cervus nippon yesoensis Heude, 1884) d'Hokkaido dans le but de faire une analyse statistique du dimorphisme sexuel et des fluctuations saisonnières de la masse. L'équation de von Bertalanffy a été ajustée aux courbes de croissance obtenues. Les longueurs à l'asymptote de la hauteur du corps, de la longueur du corps et de la longueur du pied arrière étaient de 106,2, 112,6 et 52,9 cm chez les mâles, et de 94,8, 103,9 et 49,4 cm chez les femelles, respectivement. La masse totale variait au cours de la saison, allant de 102,8 à 151,0 kg chez les mâles adultes et de 68,0 à 99,8 kg chez les femelles adultes. Le rapport mâle/femelle de la hauteur du corps a été estimé à 1,12, celui de la longueur du corps, à 1,08, celui de la longueur du pied arrière, à 1,07, celui de la masse totale, à 1,51. Ces résultats démontrent que le cerf d'Hokkaido est l'une des sous-espèces les plus grandes, au moins quant à la taille de son squelette. La taille corporelle plus grande et la longueur du pied arrière plus longue reflètent probablement une adaptation évolutive à l'environnement froid et neigeux d'Hokkaido.[Traduit par la Rédaction] Suzuki et al. 159