Identification of Pups and Yearling Wolves by Dentine Width in the Canine

One hundred and thirty-nine wolf (Canis lupus) skulls and mandibles were collected from hunters and trappers of northern Quebec and Labrador during the winters of 1980-81 through 1983-84. The maximum width of the dentine-cementum wall in wolf canine teeth was used to separate pups killed late in their first year hm yearlings killed early in their second winter of life. Both age classes may have a closed foramen at the apex of the root and a clear deposit of cementum with no opaque annulus. METHODS During the winters of 1980-81 through 1983-84, 139 wolf skulls and mandibles were collected from hunters and trappers of northern Quebec and Labrador. The assignment of wolves to age classes was necessary to determine survival rates, growth, productivity and other population characteristics to evaluate their impact upon the George River population of caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) (Parker and Luttich, 1986 - this issue). Most wolves had been shot by caribou hunters, many during the winter months of January-March, when caribou became accessible to hunters in coastal communities of northern Quebec. Teeth from 73 wolves collected earlier and aged independently by cementum annuli criteria were not available for these analyses. A canine was extracted from each mandible and cross- sectioned by saw at the gum line with a diamond saw. The root tip was examined for closure of the apical foreamen. The maximum thickness of the dentine and cementum was recorded, as was the maximum width of the pulp cavity. Other measure- ments included total tooth length and root width and thickness. All measurements were made to the nearest O. 1 mm by means of a vernier caliper. The other canine was extracted from those mandibles in which the foramen at the apex of the root was closed. The tooth was again cross-sectioned at the gum line. The root portion was decalcified and stained, and histological sec- tions were mounted on microscope slides (Parker, 198 1). Tooth sections were examined for the presence of annuli in the cementum.