A method for age estimation in the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
Clare Death A C and Graeme Coulson B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.
B School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: drcedeath@gmail.com
Australian Mammalogy 38(2) 246-248 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM15021
Submitted: 17 June 2015 Accepted: 11 January 2016 Published: 4 April 2016
Abstract
We investigated molar progression as an index of age in the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) by examining a small sample of known-age specimens. We demonstrate a strong relationship between age and molar index in W. bicolor [log10(age, in days) = (MI + 4.6864)/2.2179, R2 = 0.93], which will facilitate more detailed investigation of this species.
Additional keywords: macropodid, molar index, molar progression.
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