An Age Determination Method for the Pine Marten

Abstract

Methods for separating immature from mature pine martens (Martes c. caurina) are based on data from 204 wild-caught carcasses from Idaho and Montana and on seven skulls of known age. The length of the sagittal crest was found to be closely related to characters of the nasal sutures, weight of baculum, and presence of absence of corpora lutea. These latter characters are known to vary with advancing age and attainment of sexual maturity. The sagittal crest measurement can be made in the field with practically no laboratory preparation.