Descriptions of incisors of known-age Cape mountain zebras, Equus zebra zebra, from the Mountain Zebra National Park

Abstract

Twelve sets of incisors of Cape mountain zebras, 9 of which were from known-age individuals ranging in age from 11 months to 19 years, from the Mountain Zebra National Park, are described and depicted to illustrate not only the eruption and replacement sequence, but also the changes with increasing age in the configuration of the occlusal surfaces and of the infundibulum. Infundibula persist in maxillary incisors longer than in mandibular incisors. Shallow infundibula were still present in the maxillary incisors of a 19-year-o1d mare at least 4 years later than in plains zebras, E. burchelli, from the Kruger National Park. The physiological life span of Cape mountain zebras appears to be at least 26 years.