A contribution to the age-class determination of Martes foina erxleben, 1777 from Turkey (Mammalia : Carnivora)

Abstract

This study was based on 57 beech marten (Martes foina) specimens collected in Turkey between 1994 and 1998. The specimens were divided into 3 age classes as young, juvenile, and adult on the basis of the morphology of the sagittal and lambdoidal crests, and temporal ridges, relative lengths of the interorbital and postorbital constrictions, the degree of wear in molar and canine teeth, baculum weight and structure, pelage color, cranial and bacular measurements, and field notes concerning sexual maturity and lactation. Young, juvenile and adult specimens were readily identified by the shape of the temporal ridges on the skull. These ridges are formed by the origination of the temporalis muscles on the parietal bones and are parallel in the youngs, U- or V-shaped in juveniles, and Y-shaped in adults.