A review of age determination methods for the Stoat Mustela erminea

摘要: A sample of 166 Stoats collected from Craigieburn Forest Park, Canterbury, New Zealand, was used to assess the usefulness seven different methods age determination. All made use characters which do change with age, but not all are equally good at defining useful classes. The recommended approach is a combination skull and baculum measurements identify young animals, followed by counting canine cementum annuli adults. If or broken available, visual assessment status nasal sutures, lateral suprasesamoid tubercle femur wear carnassial teeth next best options for distinguishing young. Kopein's index based on closure pulp cavity canines, zonation visible in periosteal bone mandible, unreliable.