Dear Lindsay,
Thinking along the same lines, I did similar research many years ago and
found that seasonality information would be very difficult to infer from
looking at the sequence of epiphyseal fusion in muskrats. I am not
aware of a publication on muskrat fusion and would also be interested in
obtaining such a reference. One complication is that muskrats breed
anytime from late February to August depending on latitude and litters
born as late as September and October have been observed. One female
can produce several litters in a season, etc.
Please pass along any information and references that you find.
Tonya Largy
Zooarchaeology Laboratory
Peabody Museum, Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
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Lindsay Judith Foreman wrote:
> Hello Zooarchers!
>
> I was wondering if anyone knew of a reference for Muskrat (Ondatra
> zibethicus) fusion stages or charts. I am trying to figure out the
> approximate time of Muskrat death and procurement for several Late
> Woodland assemblages from the lower Great Lakes region. I have many
> humeri and tibiae/fibulae in my collection.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Lindsay Foreman HBSc, MA
> PhD Candidate
> Department of Anthropology
> University of Western Ontario
> London, ON
> N6A 5C2
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