A COMPARISON OF 2 METHODS BASED ON TOOTH WEAR USED TO DETERMINE AGE IN WILD CARNIVORES OF KNOWN AGE

Two age-determining methods were conducted on representatives of known age from the Order Carnivora (4 red foxes, 3 tree martens, 3 stone ma rtens, 2 racoons, 2 badgers, 1 polecat and one otter). Age determinati on employed with the aid of tooth wear nearly agrees with the real age of the animals. Dating based on the formation of the age-dependent ce ment zone coincided well with the known ages of the individual specime ns. However, in real foxes the figure one must be added to the number of cementum layers counted determining the definitive age of individua ls. For representation of the cementum layers transverse sections of t he apical part of the tooth root of canini, P-2 and P-3, Stained with methylene blue, should be used. It is important to note that the denti no-cemental line should not be considered when counting the year rings in the cement.