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Article Dans Une Revue Canadian Journal of Zoology Année : 2007

Ontogeny of body size and shape of Antarctic and subantactic fur seals

Résumé

Pre­ and post­weaning functional demands on body size and shape of mammals are often in conflict, especially in species where weaning involves a change of habitat. Compared with long lactations, brief lactations are expected to be asso­ciated with fast rates of development and attainment of adult traits. We describe allometry and growth for several morpho­logical traits in two closely related fur seal species with large differences in lactation duration at a sympatric site. Longitudinal data were collected from Antarctic (Arctocephalus gazella (Peters, 1875); 120 d lactation) and subantarctic (Arctocephalus tropicalis (Gray, 1872); 300 d lactation) fur seals. Body mass was similar in neonates of both species, but A. gazella neonates were longer, less voluminous, and had larger foreflippers. The species were similar in rate of prewean­ ing growth in body mass, but growth rates of linear variables were faster for A. gazella pups. Consequently, neonatal differ­ ences in body shape increased over lactation, and A. gazella pups approached adult body shape faster than did A. tropicalis pups. Our results indicate that preweaning growth is associated with significant changes in body shape, involving the acquis­ ition of a longer, more slender body with larger foreflippers in A. gazella. These differences suggest that A. gazella pups are physically more mature at approximately 100 d of age (close to weaning age) than A. tropicalis pups of the same age.

Dates et versions

hal-00325826 , version 1 (30-09-2008)

Identifiants

Citer

Sebastian P. Luque, Edward H. Miller, John P.Y. Arnould, Magaly Chambellant, Christophe Guinet. Ontogeny of body size and shape of Antarctic and subantactic fur seals. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2007, 85, pp.1275-1285. ⟨10.1139/Z07-092⟩. ⟨hal-00325826⟩

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