Skull Growth of the Korean Water Deer, Hydropotes inermis argyropus

Abstract

Craniomandibular traits of the water deer from the Korean peninsula were examined to assess size change in growth between age groups and sexes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted based on 34 cranial and 11 mandibular measurements from both sexes. Statistical comparisons of skull measurements revealed a significantly different growth pattern between the sexes. For the male, the size change of the cranium and mandible was straight through age groups, constantly. On the other hand, the size of the cranium and mandible of the female was changed relatively steeper than that of the male in age groups 2 to 3, and the growth curves from age group 3 to 4 were more gradual than age groups 2 to 3. Principal component analysis showed that these two sexes have a similar trend. In the allometry analysis, there were differences in growth in 5 traits in both sexes. In conclusion, our study suggests that the male and the female Korean water deer had a similar trend for their growth, although there was a small difference of skull growth for age groups.