Age determination in the arctic fox ( Alopex lagopus )

Canine teeth from foxes (Alopex lagopus) trapped in the Canadian arctic were aged by counting annular layers in the cementum. Of 513 teeth examined by this method, 448 were from foxes <1 year of age. Only 11% of those caught in February of their first year had a developing incremental line, compa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Zoology
Main Authors: Bradley, J. A., Secord, D., Prins, L.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
Subjects:
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Arctic
Alopex lagopus
Arctic Fox
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z81-269
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z81-269
Description
Summary:Canine teeth from foxes (Alopex lagopus) trapped in the Canadian arctic were aged by counting annular layers in the cementum. Of 513 teeth examined by this method, 448 were from foxes <1 year of age. Only 11% of those caught in February of their first year had a developing incremental line, compared with 77% in foxes >1 year. Simple linear measurement of the anteroposterior width of the pulp cavity was found to be an accurate method of aging 80% of juveniles.

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