EN
The effects of sex and age of wild American mink Mustela vison Schreber, 1777 were investigated on four characteristics (thickness, cross-sectional area, shear force, and shear stress) of humeri and femurs. Thicknesses and cross-sectional areas were higher (p < 0.001) in males for both bones. Shear forces for both bones were higher (p < 0.01) in males. Age significantly (p < 0.07) affected shear stress of humeri. Increase in bone strength in males appears related to increase in bone thickness and cross-sectional area only and not to increases in shear stress. Bone geometry appears to respond to changes in body size while maintaining a constant or minimum value of shear-stress.