Craniometrical characteristics and dental anomalies in wolves Canis lupus from Latvia

Abstract

A total of 187 skulls (115 adult males and 72 adult females) of the wolf Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 hunted in Latvia between 1975-1999 were measured, using 19 craniometrical parameters. General cranial characteristics were similar to those described from the wolf populations of Belarus and Poland (the difference was not statistically significant). Sexual dimorphism in skull size was determined. Most of the skull parameters from north and east Latvia appeared to be slightly larger than those from the Kurland Peninsula, being isolated by large cities, rivers and deforested lands. Also, anomalies in tooth formula were described. Deviations from the normal tooth pattern were found in 9.5% skulls. Congenital oligodonty and polydonty was found in 7.9% skulls. Polydonty was observed in 71.4% cases of tooth anomalies. Tooth anomalies were more common in males than in females.