Dental development in the cotton ear marmoset (<i>Callithrix jacchus</i>)

Abstract

Abstract The dental development of the cotton ear marmoset ( Callithrix jacchus ) was determined from gross and radiographic examinations of 40 colony born specimens to provide a biological yardstick for estimating the age of wild caught young animals. In this species 4 deciduous teeth (Id 1 ) erupt during the first week; 4 (Id 2 ) during the second week; 12 (Cd, Md 1 , Md 2 ) during the third week and 4 (Md 3 ) during the fourth week of age. Four permanent teeth (M 1 ) are visible on oral examination at 3 to 4 months: 8 (M 1 , M 2 ) at 4 to 6 months; 12 to 20 (M 1 , M 2 , I 1 , I 2 , Pm 3 ) at 7 to 8 months; 24 to 28 (M 1 , M 2 , I 1 , I 2 , Pm 1 , Pm 2 , Pm 3 at 8 to 11 months and the full complement of 32 at 11 to 12 months of age. The stage of mixed dentition extends from age 112 to 340 days. There is a close correspondence in the age related eruption pattern in each quadrant with no significant difference between males and females.