The von Bertalanffy growth model fitted to Planigale tenuirostris (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) post‐weaning data

Post‐weaning growth of head length in the dasyurid marsupial Planigale tenuirostris was studied in laboratory raised individuals. Some lived to almost three years and growth continued throughout life, following the von Bertalanffy model. Males were larger than females in each age class and two‐year‐old females were larger than one‐year‐old males. The mean head lengths were: one‐year‐olds, 20·1 and 19·8 mm; and two‐year‐olds, 21·3 and 20·7 mm, for males and females, respectively. Based on the laboratory findings, in a free‐living population approximately 21% of males and 13% of females were aged two years or older. The range of head lengths produced by these growth patterns has possibly an important influence on resource partitioning and, as a consequence, on the structure of dasyurid communities. Summary Growth of head length in P. tenuirostris from the end of weaning throughout life was studied in the laboratory. The growth curves for males and females followed the von Bertalanffy model. Growth continued throughout life and in each age class males were larger than females, resulting in a range of head lengths among mature planigales. This range in sizes has potentially important implications with respect to population niche breadth, resource partitioning and species diversity in dasyurid communities.