EXPRESSION OF GROWTH DYNAMIC IN THE STRUC TURE OF THE PERIOSTEAL BONEIN THE MALLARD, ANAS-PLATYRHYNCHOS

An experimental study of the periosteal bone growth in the mallard fro m 42 to 154 post hatching days shows: (1) a noticeable time difference in the local biological age of the diaphyseal cortices between variou s long banes; (2) great differences in their histological structures, at a given individual age, expressing commensurate differences in loca l growth rates. Those results emphasize the importance of local factor s to interpret the typology of the primary (periosteal) bone tissues. Experimental results allow to quantify the relationships between bone tissue typology and the velocity of its radial deposition.