Abstract
Emin’s silvery mole-rat, the Heliophobius argenteocinereus emini belongs to a familyBathyergidae. The Heliophobius argenteocinereus emini (Noak, 1894) is among the least studiedsub-Saharan subterranean rodents. Among others, information on ontogenetic physiognomy andstatus of sexual dimorphism in H. a. emini is missing. The present study intended to fill gaps onontogenetic characteristics and status of sexual dimorphism in these mole-rats by comprehensivelyexamining 55 skulls. Based on teeth eruption and wear, the dental formula of 1/1, 0/0, 1/1, 3/3 isreported for the first time, and subsequently established eight relative age classes. This informationwas key to the assessment of ontogenetic variations between sexes and age classes. Themultidisciplinary analyses of craniometrics between and within relative age classes showed a sharpincrease in sizes of cranial facets from relative age classes III to VIII, which signifies a divergencein the investment of energy for growth between age classes. Within all relative age classes exceptage classes I and II, females showed smaller craniometrics than males, indicating that sexualdimorphism in H. a. emini is well noticeable from the relative age class III. Subsequent analyses ofcraniometrics revealed that sexual dimorphism in H. a. emini is attributed by size.
 Keywords: Ontogenetic; Heliophobius argenteocinereus emini; craniometrics; sexual dimorphism
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