The effect of condition and age on bone measurements and minerals in the mountain hare

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Soveri, Timo, Aarnio, Martti, Tanhuanpää, Eero
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: French
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1988
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Lepus timidus; mountain hare
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-083; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-083

Sixty mountain hares (Lepus timidus L.) were shot during the fall and winter during 1980–1983 in Finland. Weight, length, and density of whole dried radius and ulna with bone marrow were measured, bones were ashed, and ash, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were determined. Adult hares had lower bone magnesium levels and their bones were heavier, longer, and denser than those of juveniles. Hares in poor condition had significantly higher bone ash content than hares in better condition. The determination of ash content from whole bones could be a suitable method to estimate the condition of carcasses from skeletons or decomposed remains of small mammals.