DEVELOPMENT AND HOMOLOGY OF THE INCISOR T EETH IN THE RABBIT

The morphology and development of the incisors were investigated stere omicroscopically, radiographically and by means of serial histologic s ections in fetal, juvenile and adult New Zealand White rabbits. A vest igial and a major incisor develop on both sides of the upper and of th e lower jaw, while a diphyodont minor incisor is located caudal to the major incisor on both sides of the upper jaw. The present study descr ibes a unique case of incisor polyodontia in an adult wild rabbit, tha t exhibited all the characteristics of a typical atavistic dentition. From these observations it was deduced that the vestigial and the majo r incisors in the rabbit are monophyodont and correspond to the first and second incisors respectively, while the minor diphyodont incisor i n the upper jaw is homologous with the third incisor.