Study of heavy and trace metal concentrations in rabbit teeth for species identification using X-ray fluorescence and...

Animal species are traditionally identified using biological methods, such as chromosome analysis. In this study, however, the identification of rabbit species (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was approached radiologically using two techniques: measurement of the mass attenuation coefficient (μ_m) of X-rays in rabbit teeth, and determination of elemental concentrations in the teeth of six different rabbit species using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). This study demonstrates the practical potential of using radiological properties to differentiate between rabbit species. Specifically, it evaluates the elemental composition and X-ray mass attenuation coefficients of tooth samples. XRF analysis revealed consistent concentrations of several essential elements across all six species such as Ca, P, K, Mg, S, Ar, Al, Si, Cl, Sr, Zn, Fe, Ti, Cr, Mn, and Cu. In contrast, elements like Au, Br, Pb, Fr, Sn, Sb, and Cd showed significant variation among species and exhibited strong discriminatory power in distinguishing them, particularly when measured in parts per million (ppm). This radiological method presents a novel alternative to traditional biological techniques for species identification, offering a non-destructive and potentially more accessible approach.