Age assessment of fallow deer ( Dama dama ): from a scoring scheme based on radiographs of developing permanent molariform teeth

The stages of permanent tooth development observed in radiographs of the mandible were described for known‐aged fallow deer Dama dama . Ten stages were defined and, by allocating scores for these stages, the scores that may be expected for a particular age have been identified. Lastly, the predicted age was given for total molariform scores. These were obtained, with 95% prediction intervals, from a regression of age on total molariform scores. An age assessment from tooth development stages can be made up to three years, after which, no further development takes place.