Initiation and early development of the postcanine deciduous dentition in the dasyurid marsupial Dasyurus viverrinus

There has been disagreement for more than 100 years concerning the presence or absence of deciduous and successional third premolars in dentition Australian dasyurid marsupial Dasyurus viverrinus as well other species genus Dasyurus. Most authors during 19th 20th centuries have considered missing premolar to be family both jaws, part because reduction size many genera dasyurids. While authors, found “the constantly present young mammary foetus a small precociously calcified vestigial tooth”. However, fate this tooth, its possible successor later developmental stages, was never described; dp3 were assumed undergo absorption foetal life. With access stages viverrinus, via extensive collections Professor J.P. Hill, we new evidence development dP3 P3 probable eruption jaws that dP2 is tooth species.