Journal article
Age estimation of pouch young and growth of the burrowing bettong, Bettongia lesueur, (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Australian Mammalogy, Vol.29(2), pp.157-167
2007
Abstract
Measurements of hind foot length, weight, head length and tail length were collected from pouch young, young at foot, sub-adults and adults of a reintroduced population of the vulnerable burrowing bettong, Bettongia lesueur, on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia. A key based on qualitative characteristics was used to age individuals and a Richards growth function was fitted to plots of hind foot length versus age. The patterns of growth and morphological characteristics were similar for males and females. Both sexes exhibited a growth pattern typical of a medium-sized macropod with an initial slow phase of growth followed by a rapid phase that slowed as adult size was reached. The growth curves are suitable for broad estimates of the age of wild-caught animals from pouch young to early adulthood.
Details
- Title
- Age estimation of pouch young and growth of the burrowing bettong, Bettongia lesueur, (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia
- Authors/Creators
- C.J. Freegard (Author/Creator) - Western AustraliaM.C. Calver (Author/Creator)J.D. Richards (Author/Creator)J.S. Bradley (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Australian Mammalogy, Vol.29(2), pp.157-167
- Publisher
- Australian Mammal Society Inc.
- Identifiers
- 991005544249707891
- Copyright
- © CSIRO 2007
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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