Dental Anomalies in the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus)

Abstract We found dental anomalies in 36 of 249 (14.5%) cleaned skulls of eastern moles from southern Illinois and Cincinnati, Ohio. Additional teeth (supernumeration) were observed in four individuals; one specimen had a unilateral additional upper premolar, and three specimens had additional upper or lower incisors. Connation (splitting) occurred unilaterally in I1 and P1 of one individual. Failure of teeth to develop (agenesis) was much more common, occurring in 31 individuals. Agenesis usually involved maxillary dentition—P1 and/or I2 and I3—sometimes with the same individual having lost incisors and premolars. Agenesis of mandibular dentition (P1) was noted in only one individual. We found no anomalies involving molars and no relationship between age of individuals and dental anomalies. Rudimentary teeth (“spicules”) in the mandibular diastema occurred in 68 individuals (27.3%). There was a trend toward reduction of rudimentary teeth with increasing age, but no relationship between occurrence of anomalies and rudimentary teeth.

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