Ashley, would you post a photo showing the entire jaw, or at least the
horizontal ramus, in which the abnormal tooth developed? This would assist
in interpreting the possible identity of the tooth, i.e. as a split or
damaged tooth bud, a supernumerary, or whatnot. -- Dr. Deb

>
> Dear Zooarch Team,
>
> I've come across a case of anomalous dog dentition that I have been unable
> to find reported elsewhere. I'd be be very interested to hear if anyone
> has found something similar, either in a dog or other carnivore. The
> example I have is a dog lacking protocones on both of its upper P4
> carnassials. I uploaded a set of photos of the specimen on Dropbox:
> https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ezz42bachaz5ef/Dog%20missing%20protocone.jpg?dl=0
>
> As the photos show, this is not a case of a reduced protocone -- the
> protocones are entirely lacking, and there is no third root. The missing
> protocone occurs on both right and left sides, so it is not a case of one
> problematic tooth. The maxillary bone developed where the protocone and
> its root otherwise would be. The dog cranium was found mostly complete but
> crushed, but from what I can tell of the intact pieces, there are no other
> signs of abnormalities.
>
> Dogs born with missing teeth are well-documented and characteristic of
> certain breeds, but I've not found any report of a missing protocone. I've
> shown the teeth to other zooarchaeologists, zoologists, and
> paleontologists, but no one I have spoken with has found a similar case in
> any carnivore.
>
> I would be interested to know if anyone has found a similar case such as
> this (past or present and anywhere in the world), even cases of missing
> cusps on other teeth. This particular dog dates to ~2500-3000 BP and was
> found in Guatemala, which is a time when we have little information about
> breeds in that area.
>
> Thank you all in advance for your help/advice/comments.
>
> Best,
> Ashley
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