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Osteological Identification of Long-Eared and Short-Eared Owls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Steven D. Emslie
Steven D. Emslie*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ 86011
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Abstract

The long-eared owl (Asio otus) and short-eared owl (A. flammeus) are indistinguishable by bone morphology alone. Since they inhabit contrasting ecological situations, identification of their bones from prehistoric sites is important for paleoenvironmental interpretations. Measurements on long bones of modern specimens indicate these species can be identified by bone size. Tables are presented for use by the analyst in identifying complete or fragmentary wing and leg bones.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 47 , Issue 1 , January 1982 , pp. 155 - 157
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1982

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References

References Cited

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