Aging European Wild Hogs by Dentition

Abstract

A method of aging pen-reared European wild hogs (Sus scrofa) was developed by using the time and order of tooth eruption and replacement. Wild hogs are born with incisors three (i-) and canines (cl-). All deciduous incisors and premolars erupt by 120 days. Molars one (MI) and premolars (P1), the first permanent teeth, erupt at about 5 months. At 7 months permanent incisors three (L!) 1'3 canines (C ) replace their deciduous counterparts. Molars two (MI) and permanent incisors one (IU) are present in igs aged 12-15 m nths. Temporary premolars are replaced at 14-18 months, a d m e t lower incisors two (I-) erupt at 18-22 months. Upper incisors two (II.) d lower molars t ee (M--) erupt at 21-26 months. Permanent dentition is complete with the eruption of upper molar r A at 26 months or later. Since molars th ee (M-1) c ntinue to grow as the upper and lower jaws elongat this may possibly be used s a agi g c nique fo hogs over 26 months f age. T oth eruptio data ob ai ed fro wild trapped hogs correspo ded cl sely with the penn d h g d ta. Re earch on the Eur pean wild hog in T nnessee has be n handicapped by the lack of an aging technique. Although techniques are v ila l for agi g do estic species a d wild hogs in Euro e, it was ot known whether these methods could be applied reliably to the European wild hogs in Tennessee. I wish to thank James C. Lewis, Supervisor of Game Research, and Vernon Henry, European wild hog project leader, for reading the manuscript and offering suggestions. I am grateful to the following Game and Fish employees for assistance in handling the hogs: L. A. Hunt, E. Mountain, H. E. Rice, G. B. Peaden, R. R. Pugh, and D. J. Williams.