Premolar and molar rotation in wild Japanese serow populations on Honshu Island, Japan

SummaryThe skulls of 1195 Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) from six geographically distinct populations were examined for tooth rotation. Our objectives were to determine tooth rotation patterns in Japanese serows, investigate geographical variation in tooth rotation and examine whether space limitations in the jaw accounted for variations. We then sought to explain the origin of tooth rotation in the Japanese serow. Rotated teeth were found in 131 specimens (62 males, 57 females and 12 unknown gender), with no statistically significant difference between males and females (χ2 = 0.03, P = 0.86, d.f. = 1). Among the six populations, the frequency of tooth rotation varied from 3.7–32.1% (average 11.0%). Most tooth rotation occurred in the upper third and fourth premolars. The lingual cusp of anomalous teeth was rotated 30°–90° mesially or distally from the buccolingual tooth axis, and the rotation direction differed among populations. However, we found no difference in skull or tooth morphology between normal individuals and those with tooth rotation. Therefore, hereditary factors may be involved in Japanese serow tooth rotation. We concluded that genetic differentiation occurred in the past among local Japanese serow populations isolated in mountainous habitats. Gene frequencies were likely subject to random drift, especially during possible population bottlenecks, when genetic factors could most strongly affect the direction of rotation.