Allometry of the baculum in the wolf (Canis lupus, Canidae) as an indicator of viability and quality in males

The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that the baculum of the wolf may be used as a reliable indicator of good genes to female mates during mating. The wolf is a species where pair bonds are formed via strength of pre-copulatory mate choice surmised from the degree of male-biased sexual size dimorphism found in this species. Results in this study showed that a positive, linear relationship between baculum length and non-sexual...