Abstract
Simple SummaryAttacks by Iberian wolves on farm animals routinely cause conflicts with humans and threaten their economic interests related to livestock. However, wolf predation can sometimes be confused with that caused by other carnivores like dogs. Some studies have tried to identify or differentiate canids as the predators responsible for such attacks by analysing their tooth/bite marks on bone remains. Nevertheless, most of those studies have only considered a few dental measurements, and they were carried out in a palaeoecological and zooarchaeological context. As there is still limited information on Iberian wolf‘s dental anatomy that can be used in forensic cases, this study aimed to describe the morphology of the Iberian wolf‘s teeth and to provide new morphometric characteristics, as complete as possible, to collaborate in the correct interpretation of a wolf‘s bite marks at crime scenes. Based on the morphometric dental analysis, it was possible to differentiate female and male wolves. Moreover, the dental morphometric characteristics described can be used, at least as a reference, to identify the Iberian wolf‘s tooth/bite marks or to rule out other potential aggressors.Depredation by the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is currently thought to be a problem in some areas of Spain. However, there are few technically validated forensic tools available to determine the veracity of claims with a high degree of scientific confidence, which is important given that such attacks may lead to compensation. The analysis of bite marks on attacked animals could provide scientific evidence to help identify the offender. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the morphological and morphometric characteristics of Iberian wolf dentition. This data collection would serve as a base-point for a more accurate identification of the wolves thorough their bite marks. For the first time, 36 dental variables have been studied in wolves’ skulls, employing univariate and multivariate analyses. The general morphological dental characteristics of wolves are very similar in terms of their dental formula and tooth structure to other canids, like domestic dogs. Sex differentiation was evident, principally in terms of the maxillary distance between the palatal surfaces of the canine teeth (UbC) and the width of the left mandibular canine teeth (LlCWd). New morphometric reference information was obtained that can aid the forensic identification of bite marks caused by the Iberian wolf with greater confidence.
Highlights
Animals are capable of inducing severe injuries through bites, which can even result in death [1].some families of the order Carnivora include species that are capable of attacking and killing human beings
Wolves skulls identified anatomically with mature dentition, and with all teeth at eruption stage 3, were included in the study. This means that all incisors, premolars, and molar teeth had fully erupted into the occlusal plane, and that the visible cementoenamel junction was above the alveolus, in accordance with the code used by Geiger et al [16]
The dentition of canids involves two different dental arches, each of which has its own characteristics and number of teeth defined as incisors, canines, premolars, and molars: the maxillary arch (Figure 1B,C) and the mandibular arch
Summary
Some families of the order Carnivora include species that are capable of attacking and killing human beings. Wild animals only rarely kill in urban areas [2], with predation on livestock representing the main source of conflict between large carnivores and humans [3]. In such cases, it is important to be able to determine if the animal bites were the true cause of death, and when this is the case, to identify the perpetrator [1]. The analysis of bite marks can be used by forensic experts to aid in the identification of the taphonomic agent, and to interpret the behaviour, scavenging patterns, and predatory conduct of different animal species [7]
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