JVD 2019 #1 Treatment of Canine Tooth Fractures in the Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris): Three Cases -Deborah L. Hodesson Flashcards
Dental formula for Northern Elephant Seal
I 2/1, C 1/1, P (postcanine) 3-4/4, M 1/1 (premolars are referred to as postcanines) pups have erupted all 30 permanent teeth by the time they are weaned.
The canine teeth of males are considerably longer with a wider diameter than females, and this sexual variance is evident in newborn pups.
The primary dentition is minute, nonfunctional, and is lost soon after birth.
Facts on postcanine teeth in N Elephant seals
“postcanine” teeth are minimally functional. These teeth are single-rooted or at times double-rooted and become peg-like with wear and abrasion of the thin enamel.The difference between the premolars and molars can be minimal. Three different morphological types of postcanine teeth in the maxilla and mandible have been described.
Type I are single-rooted with rudimentary cusps,
Type II a, b, and c are single cusp, bicuspid, and tricuspid, respectively.
Type III teeth are similar to the molar teeth in other pinnipeds.
The first premolar of male seals is frequently absent, possibly due to the competition for space with the much larger canine tooth.
