Observation of lateral mandibular protuberance in Taiwan macaque (Macaca cyclopis) using computed tomography imaging

Morphological characteristics of the protuberance on the external surface of the mandible in Taiwan macaque (Macaca cyclopis) was investigated using cone-beam computed tomography. We observed 49 skulls of M. cyclopis. Of 7 skulls with deciduous and mixed dentitions in which M2s did not erupt, the protuberance was not found. Of the 13 skulls with mixed and permanent dentitions in which M2s had erupted, a palpable protuberance was found in one specimen. Of the 29 samples in which M3s had erupted completely, a perceptible protuberance was found in 2 samples, and palpable protuberance was found in 8 samples. Thus, the protuberance was found in 10 samples of the 29 samples with complete dentitions (34.5%), and the emergence of the protuberance may have been related to mandibular growth. In the case of the well-developed protuberance, it extended from the P4 to M3 region but did not extend to the mental foramina. By using cone-beam computed tomography, it was determined that the protuberance was composed of cortical bone and was the thickest in M2 region. Since the protuberance consisted of homogeneous cortical bone, it was considered to be the result of normal bone growth similar to the mandibular torus in humans.