Dentition and age determination of the giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis |
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Authors: | A J Hall-Martin |
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Institution: | Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa |
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Abstract: | Thirteen tooth eruption stages and their corresponding chronological ages are descri bed from a series of giraffe jaws. These can be used for age determination in giraffes with immature dentition. Significant correlations of the lingual crown height ( r =0-957; P < 0001) and lingual occlusal surface width ( r =0-959; P < 0001) with the number of dark staining incremental lines in the cementum of thin decalcified sections of the maxillary first molar were found. The regression equations derived from these relationships provide a further method for determining the age of a giraffe. A composite plate showing maxillary first molar wear patterns provides a means of roughly assigning an age to a particular specimen. Thin sections of undecalcified teeth, mandible measurements, various other indices of tooth wear and eye lens mass were investigated and found unsuitable for age determination in this |
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