We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Age Estimation of African Lions Panthera leo by Ratio of Tooth Areas.
- Authors
White, Paula A.; Ikanda, Dennis; Ferrante, Luigi; Chardonnet, Philippe; Mesochina, Pascal; Cameriere, Roberto
- Abstract
Improved age estimation of African lions Panthera leo is needed to address a number of pressing conservation issues. Here we present a formula for estimating lion age to within six months of known age based on measuring the extent of pulp closure from X-rays, or Ratio Of tooth AReas (ROAR). Derived from measurements taken from lions aged 3–13 years for which exact ages were known, the formula explains 92% of the total variance. The method of calculating the pulp/tooth area ratio, which has been used extensively in forensic science, is novel in the study of lion aging. As a quantifiable measure, ROAR offers improved lion age estimates for population modeling and investigations of age-related mortality, and may assist national and international wildlife authorities in judging compliance with regulatory measures involving age.
- Subjects
AGE determination of animals; LION mortality; WILDLIFE conservation; FORENSIC sciences; ANIMAL populations
- Publication
PLoS ONE, 2016, Vol 11, Issue 4, p1
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0153648