MORPHOLOGICAL PARTICULARITIES OF THE TEETH CROWN IN GOLDEN JACKAL (Canis aureus moreoticus)

A thorough understanding of dental and oral anatomy is essential for a proper recognition of all members of the carnivore species and to recognize the various signs of disease. As long as the golden jackal spreading in Eastern Europe is steadily increasing, this study aims to present a detailed description of morphological features of golden jackal dental anatomy in order to be used in clinical practice and research. The anatomical crowns of the teeth from superior and inferior jaws of seven golden jackals were examined. The complete dental formula for the permanent dentition in golden jackal is I 3/3 C1/1 PM4/4 M2/3 x 2=42teeth. The inferior dental arch is anisognathic, narrower and shorter compared to the superior dental arch. The superior incisors are located slightly rostral from the inferior incisors. Their size increases from the central to the lateral incisors, each incisor crown showing a prominent cingulum and three tubercles. The canine teeth were similar in length and width, having a simple crown. The first premolar is the smallest on both dental arches, having one tubercle, while the second and third premolars have in addition a small distal tubercle. The superior forth premolar and the first inferior molar form the carnassials tooth. The superior carnassial has three distinguishing lobes: paracone, metacone and protocone. The upper molars have a short, wide and highly rough anatomical crown. The inferior carnassial is the strongest tooth with a three-lobed pattern. Inferior molars are smaller than those of the superior arch. The morphology of the crown of the golden jackal teeth is similar to that described in dogs.