关键词: 黑线仓鼠, 生长指标, 年龄指标, 主成分分析

Abstract: The principal component analysis of 14 growth indices and non-growth index
maxilla molars war were in 539 specimens of Striped hamster (Cricetullus barabensis)．All analyzed indices were ordinated on the first principal component (axis) Z₁ whose contribution rate was 51.5％ to females correlation matrix and 49.8% to males．The result showed：
1．The greatest length of skull made the greatest projection on the first principal component Z₁ so it reflected the growth best in both male and female。
2．Body weight (except pregnant females)，body length，greatest length of body，and measurements of skull—basa1 length of skull，zygomatic width， the distance between maxilla incisor and molar，head back width，were better indices of body growth however there were some differences between males an d females.
3． Tail length and measurements of skull-length of maxilla molars row ,interorbital width, length of auditory bulla, width of auditory bulla, were regarded as poor growth indicators because 0f their small projections on the first principal component．
4．Although the grade of maxilla molars wear (the non-growth index， recognized as 9 grades)was a semi-melric index，its projection on Z₁ was still greater than 0.71 in both male and female，in spite of the loss of certain information in the process of recording．Apart from the better goodness of fit to growth，this index continuously changed as the animal developed．and there was no difference between male and female.Therefore， the grade of maxilla molars wear was selected as a precise and practical age indicator of striped hamster．