HORN GROWTH-PATTERN IN CANTABRIAN CHAMOIS RUPICAPRA-PYRENAICA PARVA -INFLUENCE OF SEX, LOCATION AND PHAENOLOGY

Sexual dimorphism in Cantabrian chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica parva (Cab rera, 1911) horn length was recorded annually for the first bye years of life. The horns of males were larger than those of females, though horn growth rate in the first two years tie horn length in the first t wo years divided by horn length in the first five years) was greater i n females than males. Sexual dimorphism in horn length of Cantabrian c hamois adults was found to be the highest of genus according to availa ble data. Males and females with faster horn growth in the first two y ears of life reduced their horn growth rate in the third and fourth ye ar. Chamois' horns from the Eastern Cantabrian Mountains were smaller than those from Western Cantabrian Mountains, although at five years o f age these differences were not evident. Total horn length and jaw le ngth showed significant positive correlation (females: r(p)(2) = 0.75, males: r(p)(2) = 0.54, p < 0.05 in both cases). This relationship sug gests that horn growth dynamics may be used as an estimation of body-s ize dynamics. Horn growth / jaw length correlation was higher in femal es than in males. Horn growth was also positively correlated with annu al precipitation in the previous year, but not with precipitation in t he current year. Winter horn growth was observed in the younger age cl asses. Post-winter horn growth was recorded in 55% of the animals in M arch. The use of this information to age Cantabrian chamois is describ ed.