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Development of the Jaws and Teeth in Mouse Lemurs
Timothy D Smith1, Kristen A Prufrock2, Julia C Boughner3
1Program of Physical Therapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USA.
American Journal of Primatology
|March 23, 2026
Summary
Mouse lemur jaw development parallels human embryonic development, with key structures forming early. However, mouse lemurs show faster canine maturation than humans, highlighting primate dental development diversity.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Comparative Anatomy
- Primate Craniodental Development
Background:
- Rodent models extensively inform craniodental development.
- Primate craniodental development, especially in humans, requires further comparative study.
- The developmental parallels between altricial mammals and primates remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the ontogeny of jaw-related structures in mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.).
- To compare mouse lemur craniodental development with human and rodent patterns.
- To investigate the sequence and timing of jaw and tooth development in a primate model.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional prenatal sampling of mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.).
- Documentation of jaw-related structure ontogeny.
- Comparative analysis of developmental sequences with humans and rodents.
Main Results:
- Mouse lemurs exhibit the same early jaw structure developmental sequence as humans and mice.
- Mandibular structures begin morphogenesis before maxillary elements, with basal bone complexity increasing with fetal size.
- Alveolar bone forms in the epifollicular membrane during the bell stage of tooth germs.
- Mouse lemurs mature deciduous canines faster than incisors, unlike anthropoids.
- Primate dental maturation is prolonged, extending beyond the formation of other facial elements.
Conclusions:
- Mouse lemur craniodental development shares fundamental similarities with human development.
- Differences in deciduous canine maturation suggest primate-specific developmental timing.
- Prolonged dental maturation is a conserved primate trait, contrasting with altricial rodents.
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