Question

The correct dental formula for Hariana bullock is -

• A. 2 (I 3/3, C 0/0, Pm 3/3, M 0/0) = 24
• B. 2 (I 0/4, C 0/0, Pm 3/3, M 3/3) = 32
• C. 2 (I 3/3, C 0/0, Pm 3/3, M 3/3) = 36
• D. 2 (I 3/3, C 1/1, Pm 3/3, M 3/3) = 40

Hint:

Remember: All adult domestic ruminants have 32 teeth and lack upper incisors (represented as I 0/4).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ruminants, including cattle, sheep, and goats, have a unique dentition adapted for grinding fibrous plant material.
They lack upper incisors and upper canine teeth, which are replaced by a tough, fibrous structure called the dental pad.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The dental formula represents one half of the upper and lower jaws.
For an adult ruminant like the Hariana bullock, the teeth are arranged as follows:
- Incisors (I): 0 in the upper jaw and 4 in the lower jaw (where the 4th lower tooth is anatomically a modified canine acting as an incisor). This is written as 0/
- Canines (C): 0 in both the upper and lower jaws (0/0).
- Premolars (Pm): 3 in the upper jaw and 3 in the lower jaw (3/3).
- Molars (M): 3 in the upper jaw and 3 in the lower jaw (3/3).
To calculate the total number of teeth, sum the values and multiply by 2:
\[ \text{Total teeth} = 2 \times \left(0 + 4 + 0 + 0 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3\right) = 2 \times 16 = 32 \]
This matches Option (B).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct adult dental formula for a Hariana bullock is $2 \times (\text{I } 0/4, \text{C } 0/0, \text{Pm } 3/3, \text{M } 3/3) = 32$.