Sequences and Timing of Dental Eruption in Semi-Free-Ranging Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx)

Abstract

The chronology of tooth emergence is often used to examine the growth and development of individuals and to compare life histories across species. Emergence patterns are also used to age animals and to infer life history influences for extinct species. However, comparative studies of primates are hindered by a lack of dental development data for many species. Here we describe the sequences and timing of tooth emergence for a large sample of semi-free-ranging mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) and compare this with other life history variables for this species. Deciduous dentition emerged in the sequence i1 i2 c p3 p4. The augmented sequence (including information about variability in emergence sequence) was i1 i2 [c p3] p4 for the female maxilla and the male mandible, and i1 i2 c p3 p4 for the female mandible and the male maxilla. Deciduous dentition was complete by 5.0 months in females and 6.4 months in males. The permanent dentition began to emerge at 26 months, and complete adult dentition had emerged by 68 months for males and 85 months for females. Sex differences occurred in the augmented eruption sequences: females M1 I1 I2 [M2 C] P3 P4 M3, males M1 I1 [I2 M2] [P4 = P3 = C] M3. The order of tooth eruption and the occurrence of sequence polymorphisms were very similar to those observed for baboons and macaques. Comparison with life history variables showed that mandrills have complete deciduous dentition at weaning, females possess both adult incisors and M1 when they first reproduce, but still have deciduous canines and premolars, and that both sexes have full adult dentition before they attain their full adult stature and mass.

Bringing Up Baby: Developmental Simulation of the Adult Cranial Morphology of Rungwecebus Kipunji

“…Simulations based upon the Chlorocebus, Papio, and Mandrillus vectors fall away from the core group in the directions of their respective model taxa. Only the latter is substantially removed from the kipunji cluster, perhaps reflecting the extended development of male mandrills (Setchell et al, 2001;Setchell and Wickings, 2004;Setchell et al, 2006). On PC1, the M. sphinx simulation falls outside the core papionin group in the direction of mandrills and drills.…”

Ontogenetic bases of canine dimorphism in anthropoid primates

“…Unfortunately, deciduous tooth measures are unavailable, and only a few data points for females are currently available. The deciduous canines erupt at 1.9 months in females and 1.7 months in males (Setchell and Wickings, 2004), and reach full size with by 1 year, lacking dimorphism. Deciduous canines wear gradually, and are shed at about 4 years in females, and 5.75-6.5 years in males.…”

“…Deciduous canines wear gradually, and are shed at about 4 years in females, and 5.75-6.5 years in males. Females initiate eruption of the adult canine tooth at 4.08 -4.75 years, while male teeth begin erupting as early as 3.67 years and as late as 6.5 years (Setchell and Wickings, 2004). Unfortunately, no canine height data were available for females between 3.6 -4.8 years, but by the latter age, females possessed canines of adult size, suggesting that the canines erupt quickly, and that females within the adult size range can be expected as young as 4 years of age.…”

Age-Related Tooth Wear Differs between Forest and Savanna Primates

“…In both species, the difference in tooth wear between M1 and M2 likely reflects earlier tooth eruption and functionality for M1 [36], [45].…”

“…Twenty-three of them were wild-born animals and their estimated ages were assigned using body, skin and fur condition, dental eruption pattern in juveniles [36] and previous experience with known-aged mandrills. The other 14 animals were captive-born individuals housed at the CIRMF that were later released into the park at different ages (Table S1).…”