Crecimiento relativo de Arvicola terrestris monticola (Rodentia, Arvicolidae)

Abstract

Relative growth of Arvicola terrestris monticola (Rodentia, Arvicolidae)
The biometric characteristics of the body, skull and mandible of Arvicola terrestris monticola, under natural conditions, are studied. A total of 406 specimens (198 males and 208 females), captured dunng 1983 and 1984 in the Aran Valley (Lleida, Spain), have been analyzed. This sample has been distributed into six classes of relative age according to the criteria used in this population in previous studies. Five somatic, 13 cranial and four mandibular pararneters have been taken into account. The results obtained indicate a biometric uniformity between the sexes. The relative growth patterns of the body, skull and mandible were determined by the percentage difference of the means of each parameter between consecutive age classes. Correlation and regression analyses have been camed out in order to determine the variation patterns of the parameters considered against the body length, body mass, upper diastema length and mandible length.