Sexual Dimorphism in the Mandibles and Canine Teeth of the Northern Elephant Seal

Briggs, Kenneth T.; Morejohn, G. Victor

doi:10.2307/1379622

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Our study of elephant seal dentition is complementary to those of Laws (1953ft) of M. leonina andBriggs (1974) and Briggs and Morejohn (1975) of M. angustirostris. The major point of our investigation was to determine the similarities and differences in postcacine crown and root morphology between the two species.…”

Section: Postcanine Dentitionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Briggs and Morejohn (1975) have shown that the root canals of the canine teeth of M. angüstirostris females occlude at age 10-12 years. Those of males of the species close at about the same time and are Brought to you by | University of Arizona Authenticated Download Date | 5/27/15 8:58 AM obscured by dentinal pearl formation in the oldest specimens (Briggs and LeBoeuf, ms).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measurements of many cranial and dentitional parameters were taken in conjunction with several other studies of the northern elephant seal (Briggs, 1974 ;Morejohn and Briggs, 1973 ;Briggs and Morejohn, 1975 ;Briggs and LeBceuf, ms). In all, we examined and/or measured the skulls of 62 M. angustirostris and 26 M. leonina.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Females of both species are more delicate than males in all respects, and, although there is considerable resemblance between immatures of both sexes, characters associated with growth of the canine teeth (width of the rostrum and lower jaws, length and shape of canines) serve to distinguish the sexes, in M. angustirostris at least, at any age (Briggs and Morejohn, 1975). King (1972) has presented an analysis of growth of the skull in M. leonina.…”

Section: Skull Growth and Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dentition, Cranial Morphology and Evolution in Elephant Seals

Kt¹,

Gv²

1976

Mammalia

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Une comparaison des cranes et de la dentition des elephants de mer septentrional (Mirounga angustirostris) et mdridional (Mirounga leonina) a mis en ovidence les caracteres indicatifs de leur ovolution et de leur degre de parent^. Les postcanines postorieures soiit plus souvent bi-et tricuspides chez M. angustirostris, et il y a une tendance plus poussee ä la presence de racines doubles dans ces postcanines que chez M. leonina. II existe moins de dimorphisme sexuel chez M. angustirostris, et certaines dimensions craniennes son t proportionnellement plus petites que celles de M. leonina. Les differences principales sont en relation avec le raccourcissement du museau chez M. leonina. Ces caracteres, ainsi que la poriode de reproduction, le pelage et evidence des fossiles, sont ici trait£s dans leur contexte ovolutif. Une nouvelle interpretation de revolution du genre est presentee.The two species of elephant seals are among the best known marine mammals. Studies of the reproductive behavior, growth, longevity, and anatomy of elephant seals have provided information comparable in detail to those available for the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), perhaps the best known of all marine mammals. The phyletic relationships of elephant seals, however, are poorly known. Until recently even the subfamilial affinities of Mirounga were in doubt (King, 1966), and the most recent synthesis of evolutionary history within the genus is largely speculative (Hendey, 1972). There has been recent interest in such relatively sophisticated studies as dialect formation, comparative ethology, and protein polymorphisms among elephant seal populations (LeBceuf and Perterson, 1969 ;LeBceuf and Petrinovich, 1974;Bonnell and Selander, 1974). Accordingly, we have been prompted to investigate the differences between the two species of the genus in hopes of providing a more comprehensive understanding of elephant seal evolution.The genus is comprised of two allopatric species. Mirounga angustirostris, the northern elephant seal, has bred in historic times from Cabo San Lazaro, Baja California, Mexico at 24° N, to Point Reyes, California at 38° N (Scammon, 1874). Range limits of M. angustirostris out of the breeding season are reported as from the Gulf of Alaska in the north

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Section: Postcanine Dentitionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Skull Growth and Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dentition, Cranial Morphology and Evolution in Elephant Seals

Kt¹,

Gv²

1976

Mammalia

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“…We collected teeth from animals with known date of death on San Benito (28°18.37' N, 115°34.01' W; n = 24) and Magdalena Islands (24°55.45' N, 112°13.50' W; n = 2), Baja California Sur (BCS) ( The sex of the specimens was determined by the degree of sexual dimorphism (Briggs & Morejohn 1975). From each individual a superior canine was extracted and aged in the laboratory by counting dentine growth layers (Scheffer 1950, Klevezal 1996.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ontogenetic changes in feeding habits of northern elephant seals revealed by δ15N and δ13C analysis of growth layers in teeth

Riofrío-Lazo¹,

Aurioles‐Gamboa²,

Bœuf³

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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15N value 1.8 ‰ higher than the average of the adult female stage, suggesting that the fetal layer is more likely the product of the intensive nursing during the first month of life. KEY WORDS: Mirounga angustirostris · Stable isotope · Dentine growth layer · Ontogenetic dietary shifts · Feeding strategy · Isotope fractionationResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

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