Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-2n9c9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-15T07:11:13.895Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Visible supernumerary teeth in pinnipeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2006

Liz Cruwys
Affiliation:
Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1ER
Adrian Friday
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

Additional, or supernumerary, teeth occur in most mammalian taxa, although they are better recorded in some species than in others. As part of a larger biometric study, incidence of visible supernumerary teeth was recorded in the skulls of 1228 pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and fur seals). Results showed that supernumerary teeth only occurred in the postcanine (molars and premolars) tooth row. It was also found that 3.3% of otariids (sea lions and fur seals) and 4.7% of phocids (‘true’ seals) possessed supernumerary postcanines. Out of a total of 52 supernumererary teeth recorded, only six were morphologically abberant; all the others played a functional role in the normal tooth row.

Information

Type
Articles
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press