ARCTIC Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) Length Estimations Based on Scapula Measurements

ABSTRACT. This study presents data and a method for reliably predicting bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) length using one length and one width measurement of the scapula. The bowhead scapula preserves well and is common in coastal arctic archaeological sites. The length measurement is taken as the maxim...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Craig Gerlach, John C. George, Robert Suydam
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1992
Subjects:
INTRODU
Arctic
Baleine
la Baleine
Arctique*
Balaena mysticetus
bowhead whale
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.500.7214
http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic46-1-55.pdf
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT. This study presents data and a method for reliably predicting bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) length using one length and one width measurement of the scapula. The bowhead scapula preserves well and is common in coastal arctic archaeological sites. The length measurement is taken as the maximum straight-line,measurement along the axis, excluding the scapular cartilage. The width measurement is recorded as a maximum transverse measurement of the ossified portion only. Using a least squares linear regression analysis to evaluate the scapula nd whale length relationship, a strong correlation between the width and length measurement and whale length is demonstmted. This technique is useful because estimates of live whale length from complete or near complete scapula can be made to less than one metre. Key words: bowhead whale, Thule, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, arctic archaeology, aboriginal whaling &SUMI?. Cette etude offre des donnhs et prBsente une mBthode de pr6diction fiable de la taille de la baleine borBale (Balaena mysticetus), Btablie il l’aide d’une mesure de la longueur et de la largeur de l’omoplate. L’omoplate de la baleine borkale se conserve bien et on en trouve de nombreux exemplaires sur les sites archhlogiques de la c6te arctique. La mesure de la longueur correspond B la distance maximale en ligne droite le long de l’axe, sans tenir compte du cartilage scapulaire. La mesure de la largeur correspond B la distance transversale maximale de la partie ossifih uniquement. L’utilisation d’une analyse de rBgression lin& & des moindres carrBs pour Bvaluer le rapport entre la dimension de l’omoplate et celle de la baleine, dvble qu’il existe une forte corrklation entre les mesures de la largeur et de la longueur de l’omoplate et la longueur de la baleine.

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