The eruption and growth of teeth in the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)

Abstract

The sequence of tooth eruption in Sarcophilus harrisii was found to follow an anterior- posterior sequence with two exceptions. The first incisors of the upper jaw did not erupt until the cessation of suckling at about 200 days and the canines did not appear until after the commencement of molar eruption. Although considerable variation exists in the time and sequence of eruption of the teeth, the age of the young can be determined using shank length and weight in combination with the status of the teeth.