Hrvoje Luciæ: Age and gender related differences of
bone mineral density of the humerus and antebrachial bones of the bottlenosed
dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and striped dolphin (Stenella
coeruleoalba) from the
Abstract
This research was aimed to determinatate age and
gender related differences of the hone mineral density in the humerus and
antebrachial hones of bottlenose dolphin {Tursiops truncatus) and
striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) Osteological preparations of the
flippers of the 69 dolphins were used. Sample was consisted of 56 flippers of
the hottlenose dolphins, of which there were 26 males and 30 females, and 13
flippers of the striped dolphins, 5 males and 8 females. Bone mineral content
and hone mineral density (HMD) were measured by method of dual energy X-ray
absorptiometry with the standard human osteodensitometer Data were
statistically analysed with aim to establish correlation of bone mineral
density, body measures and age of animals. Applied body measures were total body
length, cranial and caudal length of the flipper and the greatest width of the
flipper Age of animals was estimated by counting of dentinal layers of the
teeth (GLG method) Differences of the BMD values of the males and females were
not statistically significant! Bottlenose dolphin had greater BMD range and
greater mean value of BMD then striped dolphin BMD of humerus and antebrachial
bones could also be measured by applying protocol for small animals, but then
results were in lower range than in human protocol. Statistical correlation of
BMD, body measures and age of animals resulted with statistical formula for
calculation of the approximate age of the dolphins This statistical model can
be used as additional method to the standard GLG method for the age estimation
of the dolphins. This model is especially useful in all whales when GLG method
can't be applied This is the first record of the method for age estimation of
whales by BMD and it has never been described in literature