Dentition and age determination of the giraffe Giraffa Camelopardalis

Thirteen tooth eruption stages and their corresponding chronological ages are described 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<0.001) and lingual occlusal surface width (r=0.959; P<0.001) 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 species.

Publish DateMarch 16, 2017
Last UpdatedJanuary 26, 2021
Size2.87 MB
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