Document Type

Research

Keywords

Fox Squirrel, Sciurus, Aging Techniques, Age Criteria

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the relative accuracy of fox squirrel (Sciurus niger rufiventer (Geoffroy) age indicators commonly used in the field and laboratory. Previous reports indicated that determination of age of squirrels by external morphological characteristics was inaccurate. Estimation of the ages of 211 squirrels indicated that the most accurate field methods were coloration and appearance of nipples of females and tail pelage and scrotal pigmentation of males. Estimating age by X-ray determination of the presence or absence of an epiphyseal line was the most accurate technique for dead specimens while change in tail pelage was the most accurate technique for living animals.

Publication Date

March 1977

Journal Title

Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

Issue

First Page

Last Page

Copyright

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File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

McCloskey, Richard J. (1977) "Accuracy of Criteria Used to Determine Age of Fox Squirrels," Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science, 84(1), 32-34.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/pias/vol84/iss1/7

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Accuracy of Criteria Used to Determine Age of Fox Squirrels

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