Skeletal Observation of a Wild Chimpanzee Infant (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) from the Mahale Mountains, Tanzania

Abstract

A wild female chimpanzee infant whose date of birth and death were roughly documented died in the Mahale Mountains, Tanzania. Observation and measurements of its skeletal remains and dental investigation by radiograph were carried out. The results of the measurements and the condition of cranial sutures coincide with those of previous studies, but the calcification of the crowns of P3 and P4 have already started by 1.8-1.9 months of age. These calcifications are slightly earlier than previous records have stated. These data serve to correct the data obtained from specimens in captivity or in the wild whose exact ages are not known.