The descriptive and comparative postcranial osteology of marten ( Martes americana Turton) and fisher ( Martes pennanti Erxleben): the appendicular skeleton

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Leach, Doug
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1977
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Martes americana
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z77-023; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z77-023

The morphological characteristics of the appendicular skeleton of 26 adult fisher and 55 adult marten were studied to determine those characteristics that could be used to distinguish between species and sexes. Measurements and illustrations were used to supplement the descriptions of most bones. The appendicular skeletons of marten and fisher are similar in structure but it is possible to distinguish between the skeletal elements of these mustelids using morphometric data. Distinction can also be made between certain postcranial skeletal remains of males and females within each species using bone measurements.