On shed molars of Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus)

In this paper, the eleven molars of four Asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus LINNE) in two zoos are described. They were found in the straw where the elephants slept, except one premolar, artificially removed just before shedding.Compared with the molars in function, the shed molars exihibit the following: smaller number of lamellae, shorter crown length, lower crown height by abrasion, resorbed roots, smooth mesial wearing surface with shallow dentin inlets and indistinct enamel foldings and broad distal facette. Root resorption is more evident in the mesial portion than in the distal; the buccal and lingual third parts are more resorbed than the intermediate third portion, on the buccal side in the upper molar and on the lingual side in the lower molar, than the opposite sides in basal aspect.It is shown in specimens no. 6 and 7 that the crown height decreased by 14-15mm through abrasion during three years (P1. I, 1-4). It was noted that the distal lamellae, (specimen no.11) were shed three months earlier than the mesial ones (specimen no.10, P1. I, 5-7)