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.