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Cited by 140Comparative Animal Anatomy StudiesForensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesEvolution and Paleontology Studies

Dentition and ageing of the hippopotamus

Laws, R. M.·1968·African Journal of Ecology
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1968.tb00899.x
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Abstract

I. Summary The present paper is based on the examination of lower jaws from some 3000 individuals of Hippopotamus amphibius L. which were collected in the course of cropping operations in the Queen Elizabeth Park, Uganda between 1961 and 1966. It extends an earlier study by W. M. Longhurst, who described 20 relative age groups based on tooth replacement and wear. The age groups, slightly modified, are described and illustrated here and should serve as a useful field guide. Mean chronological ages from 0–43 years have been allocated to the groups. Checks which confirm the validity of the ages allotted are presented and discussed. These include correlation with the mandibular age group of six known‐age animals; findings on the age‐related incidence of rinderpest‐neutralising antibodies; the orderly progress of fusion of the mandibular symphysis and rate of loss of the first premolar. Growth layers present in the teeth are discussed. The growth of the eye lens is also described. After an initial phase of rapid growth the lens continues to grow throughout life and follows a rectilinear pattern from an estimated age of eight years onwards. This is expected from the findings of similar studies on other species for which known‐age specimens are available. Variability of lens dry weight at age is relatively small and indicates that the estimated ages are reasonably precise. Growth of the mandible is analysed and is not inconsistent with the ages allotted. A marked sex difference in m…

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1365-2028.1968.tb00899.x

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  • The common hippopotamus has two pairs of both maxillary and mandibular incisors, i 2/2, c 1/1, p 4/4, m 3/3, total 40.

    “In contrast, the common hippopotamus has two pairs of both maxillary and mandibular incisors, i 2/2, c 1/1, p 4/4, m 3/3, total 40 (Laws 1968).”

    From Choeropsis liberiensis (Artiodactyla: Hippopotamidae) (2019) · cites this paper as Laws 1968

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Authors
Laws, R. M.
Affiliations
University of Cambridge (GB)
Corresponding author
Laws, R. M.
Venue
African Journal of Ecology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1968-08
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
19-52
ISSN
  • 0141-6707 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2028
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2028.1968.tb00899.x
OpenAlex
W1971888480
Cited by
139
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
FWCI
3.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 14516 d)
Locations
African Journal of Ecology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords
hippopotamus, age estimation, mandible, tooth replacement, tooth wear, tooth resorption, body length growth, survival curves, life tables, population models

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