A structure in mammals that grows continually throughout life but has only recently been studied with respect to its applicability as an indicator of age is the lens of the eye. Lord (1959, 1961) found that the lens serves as a reliable age indicator in cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) and gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus). The purpose of the present study is to describe the rate of growth of the lens of the eye in pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) and to establish, within the limitations of the data available, an age index for this species based on lens growth and size. We would like to express our appreciation to P. L. Wright who aged the samples of jaws and advised on the use of dental characters for determining the age of antelope. This research was supported by a bursary from the National Research Council of Canada.
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Kolenosky et al. (1962) studied this question.