Dental Formula Cheat Sheet (adult)
I made this for myself, but maybe others will find this useful!
Cat: 3131/3121
Raccoon: 3142/3142
Skunk: 3131/3132 Wolverine: 3141/3142
Dog: 3142/3143
And you are saying to yourself: “Jangojips, there is no way I would confuse a dog with a cat.” To which I say, “But what if you find a partial chihuahua?”
(image from skulls unlimited )
Flat face, big eyes, small size…. I could see how this could confuse a novice.
That is the scariest skull I’ve ever seen.
I can see how this can be mistaken for a cat, but here’s the easiest way to note if a skull in question is from a dog or cat:
Check the teeth in profile:
See how huge the last premolar is? This is a defining characteristic of canids, even with chihuahuas.
Now, look at the dental profile of a felid. Below is a bobcat. Note the size of the back molar. It’s definitely the largest. So if you’re just looking for a quick ID, you hardly even have to worry about counting.
