Ageing the beaver (Castor fiber L.): A skeletal development and life history calendar based on epiphyseal fusion
The skeletal development of 51 recent beavers (Castor fiber L.) from Sweden has been studied, with the purpose to put forward a method for ageing individuals from this species. The study of the epiphyseal fusion in 45 epiphyses allowed for the establishment of a calendar. The results indicate that the skeletal maturation of the beaver occurs as late as 12 years. It is suggested that such prolonged