Register      Login
Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

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.


References

Augusteyn, R. (2007). Growth of the human eye lens. Molecular Vision 13, 252–257.
| 17356512PubMed |

Austad, S. N., and Fischer, K. E. (1991). Mammalian aging, metabolism, and ecology: evidence from the bats and marsupials. Journal of Gerontology 46, B47–B53.
Mammalian aging, metabolism, and ecology: evidence from the bats and marsupials.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK3M7kslKrsQ%3D%3D&md5=77e4b293fc16af2b9a659d3feff54fadCAS | 1997563PubMed |

Davis, N. E., Coulson, G., and Forsyth, D. M. (2008). Diets of native and introduced mammalian herbivores in shrub-encroached grassy woodland, south-eastern Australia. Wildlife Research 35, 684–694.
Diets of native and introduced mammalian herbivores in shrub-encroached grassy woodland, south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hollis, C. J., Robertshaw, J. D., and Harden, R. H. (1986). Ecology of the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) in northeastern New South Wales. 1. Diet. Australian Wildlife Research 13, 355–365.
Ecology of the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) in northeastern New South Wales. 1. Diet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hume, I. D. (1999). ‘Marsupial Nutrition.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Jachmann, H. (1988). Estimating age in African elephants: a revision of Laws’ molar evaluation technique. African Journal of Ecology 26, 51–56.
Estimating age in African elephants: a revision of Laws’ molar evaluation technique.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kido N, Chikuan A, Omiya T, Dan M, Nomura M. (2013). Retrospective study of oral necrobacillosis in 54 swamp wallabies. Veterinary Record 2013: vetrec-2013-101694.

Kingsmill, E. (1962). An investigation of criteria for estimating age in the marsupials Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr and Perameles nasuta Geoffroy. Australian Journal of Zoology 10, 597–616.
An investigation of criteria for estimating age in the marsupials Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr and Perameles nasuta Geoffroy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kirkpatrick, T. H. (1964). Molar progression and macropod age. The Queensland Journal of Agricultural Science 21, 163–165.

Kirkpatrick, T. H. (1965). Studies of macropodidae in Queensland. 2. Age estimation in the grey kangaroo, the red kangaroo, the eastern wallaroo and the red-necked wallaby, with notes on dental abnormalities. Queensland Journal of Agricultural and Animal Sciences 22, 301–317.

Lentle, R. G., and Hume, I. D. (2010). Mesial drift and mesial shift in the molars of four species of wallaby: the influence of chewing mechanics on tooth movement in a group of species with an unusual mode of jaw action. In ‘Macropods: The Biology of Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos’. (Eds G. Coulson, and M. Eldridge.) pp. 127–136. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Lentle, R. G., Stafford, K. J., Potter, M. A., Springett, B. P., and Haslett, S. (1998). Incisor and molar wear in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii Desmarest). Australian Journal of Zoology 46, 509–527.
Incisor and molar wear in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii Desmarest).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lentle, R. G., Hume, I. D., Stafford, K. J., Kennedy, M., Haslett, S., and Springett, B. P. (2003a). Molar progression and tooth wear in tammar (Macropus eugenii) and parma (Macropus parma) wallabies. Australian Journal of Zoology 51, 137–151.
Molar progression and tooth wear in tammar (Macropus eugenii) and parma (Macropus parma) wallabies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lentle, R. G., Hume, I. D., Stafford, K. J., Kennedy, M., Haslett, S., and Springett, B. P. (2003b). Comparisons of indices of molar progression and dental function of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) with tammar (Macropus eugenii) and parma (Macropus parma) wallabies. Australian Journal of Zoology 51, 259–269.
Comparisons of indices of molar progression and dental function of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) with tammar (Macropus eugenii) and parma (Macropus parma) wallabies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McArthur, C., and Sanson, G. D. (1988). Tooth wear in eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus), and its potential influence on diet selection, digestion and population parameters. Journal of Zoology 215, 491–504.
Tooth wear in eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus), and its potential influence on diet selection, digestion and population parameters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Merchant, J. C. (2008). Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Eds S. Van Dyck, and R. Strahan.) pp. 404–405. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)

Miller, W. A., Sanson, G. D., and Odell, D. K. (1980). Molar progression in the manatee (Trichechus manatus). The Anatomical Record 196, A128–A128.

Morris, P. (1972). A review of mammalian age determination methods. Mammal Review 2, 69–104.
A review of mammalian age determination methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Newsome, A., Merchant, J., Bolton, B., and Dudzinski, M. (1977). Sexual dimorphism in molar progression and eruption in the agile wallaby. Wildlife Research 4, 1–5.
Sexual dimorphism in molar progression and eruption in the agile wallaby.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

R Core Team. (2014). ‘R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria.)

Sanson, G. D. (1980). The morphology and occlusion of the molariform cheek teeth in some Macropodinae (Marsupialia, Macropodidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 28, 341–365.
The morphology and occlusion of the molariform cheek teeth in some Macropodinae (Marsupialia, Macropodidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sanson, G. D. (1989). Morphological adaptations of teeth to diets and feeding in the Macropodoidea. In ‘Kangaroos, Wallabies and Rat-Kangaroos. 1’. (Eds G. Grigg, P. Jarman, and I. Hume.) pp. 151–168. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)

Smith, H. B. (2000). ‘Schultz’s Rule’ and the evolution of tooth emergence and replacement patterns in primates and ungulates. In ‘Development, Function and Evolution of Teeth’. (Eds M. F. Teaford, M. M. Smith, and M. W. J. Ferguson.) pp. 212–227. (Cambridge University Press: New York.)

Vogelnest, L., and Portas, T. (2008). Macropods. In ‘Medicine of Australian Mammals’. (Eds L. Vogelnest, and R. Woods.) pp. 133–226. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)