The exact age of white-lipped deer
Cervus albirostris was determined by counting the annual layers of dental cementum on the first incisor and the first molar. The first annual layer (layer of the winter season) of the first incisor and the first molar of this species was formed during the second winter season after birth. Furthermore we analyzed the deer's age based on tooth replacement, location of cervical lines and the progress of wear on the molar teeth. The age of newborn deer to 2.5-year-olds could be estimated by tooth replacement alone. For 2.5- to 8.5-year-old deer, age could be estimated by the appearance of the lingual and buccal cervical lines of M
1, M
2 and M
3. For deer over the age of 8.5 years, the wear index on the M
1, M
2 and M
3 was an effective method of estimating age.
View full abstract