Age and Sex Determination in the Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius, Rodentia, Arvicolinae) Based on Measurements of the Pelvic Limb Bones

Зудова, Г.А.; Proskurnyak, L. P.; Назарова, Г. Г.

doi:10.1134/s1062359017090187

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Moreover, immobilization of an animal during radiography would allow the use of age indicators other than teeth or skull characters. The degree of fusion of the epiphyseal plates and pelvis features, unlike the indicators dependent on tooth wear, may be appropriate for age estimation in arhizodont species of rodents (Tarasov 1966; Zudova et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental radiography as a low-invasive field technique to estimate age in small rodents, with the mole voles (Ellobius) as an example

Nikonova,

Naumova,

Bergaliev

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Most studies which deal with natural populations require a reliable and convenient way of age estimation. However, even rough aging of live individuals is often a real challenge. In this study, we develop a radiographic method of age estimation in Ellobius talpinus, a promising model species for population and behavioral ecology. Using a portable X-ray equipment, we radiographed wild, non-sedated animals from the population that had been subjected to extensive mark-recaptures for 3 years. Two molar metrics strongly dependent on age and easy to measure on radiographs were selected: the lengths of synclinal folds of the 1st upper and 1st lower molars. No influence of sex on the molar condition age dynamics was found. Discriminant function analysis based on molar condition and date of radiography in 86 animals of known age classes assigned X-ray images to three age classes (young of the year, yearlings, and 2 years or older) with an accuracy of 99%. Leave-one-out cross-validation yielded 97% of correct assignments. All age estimates for 52 repeatedly radiographed individuals were consistent across images. The analysis of the repeated X-ray images obtained from the same animals showed that 1st lower molars change faster in the first summer of life than later whereas the change rate of the 1st upper molars decreases little throughout life. We propose X-ray technique as a useful alternative to direct skull and dental morphometry for age estimation of wild small mammals, saving the investigator's time and lives of animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%