Moulting patterns inClethrionomys gapperi

Abstract

2005. Moulting patterns in Clethrionomys gapperi. Acta Theriologica 50: 561-569.Small northern mammals undergo regular developmental and seasonal moults. However, the moulting patterns of many small mammals are not well known. Development and subsequent moulting of the pelage was documented in adult red-backed voles Clethrionomys gapperi Vigors, 1830 and their offspring in relation to age, weight, and sex. Red-backed voles exhibited 4 developmental pelages (nestling, juveniles, subadult, and adult) through diffuse, rapid hair growth. Rapid growth was associated with early moulting at the nestling, juveniles and adult stages. However, a trade-off between moulting and growth existed at the subadult stage such that delayed moulting was associated with rapid growth. Adult voles completed a unique moult progression with highly variable timing. Male and female C. gapperi showed no differences in pattern or locations of moulting. Variation in the number and timing of moults in small mammals may reflect differences in life-history strategies and highlights the need for a consistent mammalian pelages and moults nomenclature.

Moulting matters: the importance of understanding moulting cycles in bats when using fur for endogenous marker analysis

“…Dying the fur of captive individuals and visually observing new fur growth is a method that has been used to study the moulting cycles of other mammal species (e.g., Sare et al 2005;Miller et al 2008), but we found no such published studies involving bats. This method could be promising for bat species where it is not practical to visually detect new fur growth and darkened skin pigmentation in live animals.…”

Nitrogen- and carbon-isotope fractionation between mothers and offspring in red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi)

“…First, independent offspring may have retained hair from their period of dependency, when protein was derived solely from milk. This is unlikely because red-backed voles completed both subadult and adult developmental moults by approximately 40 days of age (Sare et al 2005). Therefore, it is unlikely that the offspring sampled at approximately 53 days retained nestling hair to a degree that could explain the results.…”

“…Redbacked voles in the Kananaskis Valley complete the subadult pelage at approximately 28 days (range = 20-34) of age, while the final adult pelage is completed at approximately 40 (range = 33-46) days of age (Sare et al 2005). Therefore, samples from independent young were generally taken following two postweaning moults.…”

“…Therefore, samples from independent young were generally taken following two postweaning moults. Pelage samples were taken from the dorsal posterior of dams at the end of the study (approximately 49 days, range = 17-76 days), following posterior moulting (Sare et al 2005), so that all dams had replaced their pelage on the laboratory diet. Pelage was removed down to the epidermis.…”

Seasonal Moulting in Deer Mice (<em>Peromyscus maniculatus</em>) in the Rocky Mountains, Alberta

“…The maturational moult is most obvious, as it commonly includes a colour change. It has been studied in many small mammals, such as Southern Red-backed Voles (Myodes gapperi, formerly Clethrionomys gapperi; Sare et al 2005), California Voles (Microtus californicus; Ecke and Kinney 1956), and North American Deer Mice (Peromyscus maniculatus; Collins 1923). Seasonal regeneration moult in adults, however, has not been studied extensively in any small mammal, and the literature is contradictory in some cases.…”