Estimating the size of European rabbits consumed by predators: Relationship between body mass and tooth dimensions

Calzada, Javier; Haydon, Daniel T.; Palomares, Francisço

doi:10.1007/bf03194270

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Measurements of these other, more easily obtained, body parameters are frequently used in equations to predict weight [ 5 , 14 , 28 – 30 ], such as using chest girth to estimate weight of polar bears Ursus maritimus [ 28 ]. Other techniques, though less commonly used, include estimation from faecal bolus weight [ 31 , 32 ] or the size of teeth [ 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Big Is It Really? Assessing the Efficacy of Indirect Estimates of Body Size in Asian Elephants

et al. 2016

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Information on an organism’s body size is pivotal in understanding its life history and fitness, as well as helping inform conservation measures. However, for many species, particularly large-bodied wild animals, taking accurate body size measurements can be a challenge. Various means to estimate body size have been employed, from more direct methods such as using photogrammetry to obtain height or length measurements, to indirect prediction of weight using other body morphometrics or even the size of dung boli. It is often unclear how accurate these measures are because they cannot be compared to objective measures. Here, we investigate how well existing estimation equations predict the actual body weight of Asian elephants Elephas maximus, using body measurements (height, chest girth, length, foot circumference and neck circumference) taken directly from a large population of semi-captive animals in Myanmar (n = 404). We then define new and better fitting formulas to predict body weight in Myanmar elephants from these readily available measures. We also investigate whether the important parameters height and chest girth can be estimated from photographs (n = 151). Our results show considerable variation in the ability of existing estimation equations to predict weight, and that the equations proposed in this paper predict weight better in almost all circumstances. We also find that measurements from standardised photographs reflect body height and chest girth after applying minor adjustments. Our results have implications for size estimation of large wild animals in the field, as well as for management in captive settings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Big Is It Really? Assessing the Efficacy of Indirect Estimates of Body Size in Asian Elephants

et al. 2016

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“…PeerJ PrePrints | http://dx.doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.657v1 | CC-BY 4.0 Open Access | rec: 3 Dec 2014, publ: 3 Dec 2014 three authors (BPK, MW, and NB), and a repeatability study (not shown) was performed to ensure there was no intercollector bias introduced. We also measured the first molar (M1) length and width, then calculated the M1 area to use as a proxy to body size, which been shown to be highly correlated with body mass in rabbits (Calzada et al 2003).…”

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confidence: 99%

Ecological correlates to cranial morphology in Leporids (Mammalia, Lagomorpha)

Kraatz

Bumacod

Sherratt

et al. 2014

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The mammalian order Lagomorpha has been the subject of many morphometric studies aimed at understanding the relationship between form and function as it relates to locomotion, primarily in postcranial morphology. The leporid cranial skeleton, however, may also reveal information about their ecology, particularly locomotion and vision. Here we investigate the relationship between cranial shape and the degree of facial tilt with locomotion (cursoriality, saltation, and burrowing) within crown leporids. Our results suggest that facial tilt is more pronounced in cursors and saltators compared to generalists. However cranial shape does not differ significantly among these locomotor groups, nor does it differ significantly between species that burrow and those that do not.

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