Quantifying the age- and sex-dependent morphological variation in two syntopic mustelids: Martes martes and Martes foina

摘要: Abstract Age determination is a prerequisite to establish reliable age and sex-specific patterns of morphological variation between individuals, populations species. In this paper, we explored sex variations in pine stone martens the same region Bresse (France) during period. Using large dataset genetically identified, discriminated individuals using set measurements (body mass, head-and-body length, tooth wear, tail neck circumference, posterior foot baculum length) evaluated their power correctly classifying three classes: juveniles, subadults adults. We then derived cross-sectional growth curves for two species estimated at end by adjusting species-specific von Bertalanffy curves. Our results showed that sub-adults adults are difficult disentangle based on measurements, especially because reached adult size eight months. On adults, sexual dimorphism favor males all traits measured was clearly more pronounced than martens. Stone significantly larger sex, except length which not significant discussed our light various hypotheses concerning biogeographical long-term divergence. suggest inter-specific differences morphology might facilitate coexistence both area.