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International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

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e-ISSN : 2347-2677, p-ISSN : 2394-0522

International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

2017, Vol. 4 Issue 2, Part A

Morphometric variation and its relation to the eyes lens weight among three species of wild rodents in Tunisia

Author(s):

Wissem Ghawar, Mohammed-Ali Snoussi, Sadok Salem, Kaouther Jaouadi, Wassim Zaatour, Rihab Yazidi and Jihene Bettaieb

Abstract:
Rodents are important reservoirs for a large number of zoonotic pathogens, and some species are of interest in medical research. Age determination is essential for understanding many aspects of these wild rodents including population growth, dynamics and ecology. We aimed to investigate the intra-specific morphometric variations of three species of Tunisian rodents: Psammomys (P.) obesus, Meriones (M.) shawi and Ctenodactylus (C.) gundi, and to develop a model for relative age-estimation based on eyes lens weight (ELW). Between November 2008 and May 2013, 731 wild rodents were trapped—472 P. obesus, 167 M. shawi and 92 C. gundi—at three study sites for each species. Morphometric description and its variability according to their origin were demonstrated among the three rodent species. Additionally, moderate equations correlating morphometric measurements with ELW were determined for each species of rodents using multivariable logistic regression. Head and body length was identified as the most suitable parameter to estimate the ELW (relative age indicator) in the three rodent species studied. That will be of use in research using these rodent species, negating the need for postmortem examination.

Pages: 30-38  |  2634 Views  320 Downloads

How to cite this article:
Wissem Ghawar, Mohammed-Ali Snoussi, Sadok Salem, Kaouther Jaouadi, Wassim Zaatour, Rihab Yazidi and Jihene Bettaieb. Morphometric variation and its relation to the eyes lens weight among three species of wild rodents in Tunisia. Int. J. Fauna Biol. Stud. 2017;4(2):30-38.

International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies
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