Cementum annulus counts provide a means for age determination in Macaca mulatta (primates, anthropoidea).

Journal Article (Journal Article)

14 teeth of 8 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) of known age were analyzed to assess the usefulness of cementum annuli counts as a means of estimating chronological age. Methods used were histological examination of stained thin sections by light microscopy, and examination of polished and etched epoxy-embedded sections by scanning electron microscopy. In 11 of 14 cases, the known chronological ages of the individuals fell within the predicted age ranges based on cementum annuli counts; in 2 other cases, it fell within half a year of the ranges. Cementum annulus counts can provide valuable information about the age of primates living in semitropical environments. This is the most accurate method for aging skeletally adult primates that has yet been tested on animals of known age.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Kay, RF; Rasmussen, DT; Beard, KC

Published Date

  • January 1, 1984

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 42 / 2

Start / End Page

  • 85 - 95

PubMed ID

  • 6469152

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1421-9980

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0015-5713

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1159/000156152

Language

  • eng