Ageing the beaver (Castor fiber L.): A skeletal development and life history calendar based on epiphyseal fusion
(2005) In Archaeofauna 14. p.199-213- Abstract
- The skeletal development of 51 recent beavers (Castor fiber L.) from Sweden has been studied, with the purpose to put forward a method for ageing individuals from this species. The study of the epiphyseal fusion in 45 epiphyses allowed for the establishment of a calendar. The results indicate that the skeletal maturation of the beaver occurs as late as 12 years. It is suggested that such prolonged epiphyseal fusion is due to the aquatic mode of life of the beaver. The skeletal development additionally allows for the creation of five skeletally defined cohorts namely: juveniles, subadults, young adults, middle aged adults and old adults. It is suggested that this system be used when ageing skeletal remains of beaver from zooarchaeological... (More)
- The skeletal development of 51 recent beavers (Castor fiber L.) from Sweden has been studied, with the purpose to put forward a method for ageing individuals from this species. The study of the epiphyseal fusion in 45 epiphyses allowed for the establishment of a calendar. The results indicate that the skeletal maturation of the beaver occurs as late as 12 years. It is suggested that such prolonged epiphyseal fusion is due to the aquatic mode of life of the beaver. The skeletal development additionally allows for the creation of five skeletally defined cohorts namely: juveniles, subadults, young adults, middle aged adults and old adults. It is suggested that this system be used when ageing skeletal remains of beaver from zooarchaeological assemblages and in wildlife management studies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/898765
- author
- Fandén, Anders LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2005
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- life history, aquatic mode of life, development, prolonged skeletal, epiphyseal fusion, beaver, Castor fiber
- in
- Archaeofauna
- volume
- 14
- pages
- 199 - 213
- publisher
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid: Laboratorio de Arqueozoología
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000233019700012
- scopus:60949513861
- ISSN
- 1132-6891
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 61239e32-c845-46d8-8ea3-ad6555d345cd (old id 898765)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 17:10:29
- date last changed
- 2022-01-29 00:50:09
@article{61239e32-c845-46d8-8ea3-ad6555d345cd,
abstract = {{The skeletal development of 51 recent beavers (Castor fiber L.) from Sweden has been studied, with the purpose to put forward a method for ageing individuals from this species. The study of the epiphyseal fusion in 45 epiphyses allowed for the establishment of a calendar. The results indicate that the skeletal maturation of the beaver occurs as late as 12 years. It is suggested that such prolonged epiphyseal fusion is due to the aquatic mode of life of the beaver. The skeletal development additionally allows for the creation of five skeletally defined cohorts namely: juveniles, subadults, young adults, middle aged adults and old adults. It is suggested that this system be used when ageing skeletal remains of beaver from zooarchaeological assemblages and in wildlife management studies.}},
author = {{Fandén, Anders}},
issn = {{1132-6891}},
keywords = {{life history; aquatic mode of life; development; prolonged skeletal; epiphyseal fusion; beaver; Castor fiber}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{199--213}},
publisher = {{Universidad Autónoma de Madrid: Laboratorio de Arqueozoología}},
series = {{Archaeofauna}},
title = {{Ageing the beaver (Castor fiber L.): A skeletal development and life history calendar based on epiphyseal fusion}},
volume = {{14}},
year = {{2005}},
}