Apical elongation of molars in the water vole (Arvicola Amphibius (L.), Rodentia, Arvicolinae)

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Abstract

Dental anomalies of the lower and upper jaws caused by the proliferation of the apical parts of the molars were found in water voles from a laboratory colony. Such a molar phenotype is observed in several representatives of the subfamily Arvicolinae with a constant growth of cheek teeth. In the Water vole, apical elongation of the upper jaw molars was found in 48.4% individuals, and of the lower jaw in 53% individuals (n = 589). The upper molars penetrate the cranial cavity of the animals, while the lower molars form bone growths on the buccal side of the jaw. Elongation of the molars on the lower and upper jaws occurs interrelatedly, as evidenced by the positive correlation between these features (r = 0.35). Ingrowth of molars into the cranial cavity is associated with the sex of the animals. In all age classes, the proportion of females with molar invasion into the skull is higher than that of males. The frequency of detection of dental anomalies is the highest at the age of 1–2.5 years. Positive correlations between the presence of a dental anomaly in siblings or in parents and offspring indicate the hereditary determination of the traits. The growth of the apical parts of the molars on the upper or lower jaw is associated with a decrease in the reproductive performance of females and does not affect the reproductive ability of males.

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L. P. Proskurnyak

Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: luda_proskurnjak@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 630091, Novosibirsk

G. G. Nazarova

Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: luda_proskurnjak@mail.ru
Russian Federation, 630091, Novosibirsk

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Apical elongations of the molars on the lower and upper jaws in a water vole. A – lower jaw: on the left – normal; on the right – mandibular apical elongations of the molars m1, m2, m3, deforming the cortical layer of the bone; B – radiograph of the skull with molars penetrating into the cavity (side view and from the side of the foramen magnum); C – normal molars of the upper jaw; D – barely noticeable elongations of the molars of the upper jaw; E – apical elongations of the molars M2, M3 deeply penetrating into the skull.

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3. Fig. 2. Proportion of individuals (%) with apical elongation of the upper jaw molars.

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4. Fig. 3. The degree of elongation of the upper molars, expressed in points, in females and males from different age classes.

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5. Fig. 4. The proportion of individuals (%) of different ages with apical elongation of the lower jaw molars.

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6. Fig. 5. Reproductive success of males and females with or without apical elongation of the maxillary molars: proportion of pairs (%) in which estrus or mating occurred, from the total number of pairs. Asterisks mark the comparison variants in which the differences are statistically significant (p < 0.001).

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7. Fig. 6. Reproductive success of males and females with or without apical elongation of the mandibular molars: proportion of pairs (%) in which estrus or mating occurred, from the total number of pairs. Asterisks mark the comparison variants in which the differences are statistically significant (p < 0.001).

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