Abstract
The distal forelimbs and mandibles of 110 female and 240 male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, were used to examine the relationship between metacarpal dimensions, first lower molar occlusal surface area, and mandibular width versus body mass. The strongest correlation was found between female metacarpal proximal area vs. body mass (R2 = 0.74). The combined-sexes metacarpal proximal area vs. body mass displayed a lower correlation (R2 = 0.54). The female first lower molar surface area vs. body mass produced the highest dental correlation (R2 = 0.56). The study suggests that body mass estimates using postcranial and tooth measurements are more accurate when the sex of the animal is known.
Recommended Citation
Morris, Brandi and Mead, Alfred J.
(2016)
"Body Mass Estimates from Bone and Tooth Measurements in White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus,"
Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 74, No. 2, Article 18.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol74/iss2/18