STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF MINK MUSTELA-VISON LIMB BONES

The effects of sex and age of wild American mink Mustela vison Schrebe r, 1777 were investigated on four characteristics (thickness, cross-se ctional area, shear force, and shear stress) of humeri and femurs. Thi cknesses and cross-sectional areas were higher (p < 0.001) in males fo r both bones. Shear forces for both bones were higher (p < 0.01) in ma les. Age significantly (p < 0.07) affected shear stress of humeri. Inc rease in bone strength in males appears related to increase in bone th ickness and cross-sectional area only and not to increases in shear st ress. Bone geometry appears to respond to changes in body size while m aintaining a constant or minimum value of shear-stress.