
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Freegard, C.J. 
A1  - Calver, M.C. 
A1  - Richards, J.D. 
A1  - Bradley, J.S. 
T1  - Age estimation of pouch young and growth of the burrowing bettong, Bettongia lesueur, (Marsupialia: Potoroidae) on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia
JF  - Australian Mammalogy
JO  - Aust. Mammalogy
Y1  - 2007
VL  - 29
IS  - 2
SP  - 157
EP  - 167
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/AM07020 
N2  - Measurements of hind foot length, weight, head length and tail length were collected from pouch young, young at foot, sub-adults and adults of a reintroduced population of the vulnerable burrowing bettong, Bettongia lesueur, on Heirisson Prong, Shark Bay, Western Australia. A key based on qualitative characteristics was used to age individuals and a Richards growth function was fitted to plots of hind foot length versus age. The patterns of growth and morphological characteristics were similar for males and females. Both sexes exhibited a growth pattern typical of a medium-sized macropod with an initial slow phase of growth followed by a rapid phase that slowed as adult size was reached. The growth curves are suitable for broad estimates of the age of wild-caught animals from pouch young to early adulthood. 
ER  -

