Sexual dimorphism in the cranial development of Scandinavian moose ( Alces alces (L.) alces )
Sex-dependent developmental changes in eight cranial measurements were studied using a stepwise discriminant analysis and allometric equations on 99 Scandinavian moose (Alces alces (L.) alces) skulls to define gross sex-related tendencies. While a considerable overlap between sexes is apparent when...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1987
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z87-113 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z87-113 |
| Summary: | Sex-dependent developmental changes in eight cranial measurements were studied using a stepwise discriminant analysis and allometric equations on 99 Scandinavian moose (Alces alces (L.) alces) skulls to define gross sex-related tendencies. While a considerable overlap between sexes is apparent when only univariate statistics are compared, allometric equations show differences between sexes in terms of relative growth intensities. All measurements studied display more intensive growth in males when compared with basal length. In the facial portion of the skull, however, the relative increase of palatal length is particularly rapid, while growth of the premolar row is especially slow in females. Other signs of secondary sexual dimorphism appear in neurocranium measurements and are apparently related to the seasonal presence of antlers in bulls. |
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