Experimental evaluation of the reliability of placental scar counts in American mink (Mustela vison)

摘要: Counting of placental scars in the uterus is a valuable method to estimate female fecundity wild-ranging mammalian populations, but reliability scar counts (PSC) has only been thoroughly assessed for few species. Here we evaluate PSC American mink (Mustela vison) through examination farm animals with known reproductive history. estimated pregnancy rate and litter size accurately individuals up 3 months postpartum. Placental were detectable most sampled 7–8 postpartum, proportion minks misclassified as barren was overestimated, mean underestimated. We found large variation intensity pigmentation similar age. Differentiation according shading indicating either successful full-term pregnancies or post-implantation loss embryos not possible. propose that these results are applicable analysis closely related mustelids.