Age-Related Morphometrics and Sex Ratios in the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus)

We took nine skull measurements, three body measurements, and body mass on 240 eastern moles (Scalopus aquaticus) to determine age and sex-related morphologic variation. We estimated age of specimens as juveniles (<1 y old) or adults 1 to 4+ y old based on wear of the last upper molar. Mean values for all skull and body measurements were significantly larger for males than females. There were significant age-related differences in body mass, total length, and width across the upper canines. Adult sex ratios differed seasonally, although not during the breeding season as expected; the sex ratio of 74 juveniles was 1:1. We also investigated the correlation between age estimation based on wear of M 3 vs. degree of ossification of maxillary bone over the buccal roots of the cheek teeth used in previous studies. We found little relationship between the two age estimation methods, with buccal ossification less precise than molar wear.