Fig 9. A comparison of the typical development (not necessarily occlusal wear) of molar teeth of African elephants at different lamellae numbers according to the position of the Age Reference Line.

Molars are aligned with mesial end to the left with the smaller molar at the top, progressively getting larger downward. Red dots indicate the lamellae number (L), which is 10 cm mesial from the Age Reference Point (See Fig 2). A) M5 (top) and M6 (bottom) at L2. M5 tends to come into wear first on L1. Due to space restrictions, M6 tends to emerge into wear from underneath the final lamellae of M5, it therefore most commonly wears first on either L2 or L3. B) M4, M5 and M6 at L3. The root base is much longer in M5 than M4, M5 is also longer and deeper. When comparing M5 and M6, M6 is typically showing first wear on L2 or L3. In M6 the lamellae also tend to taper to a smaller size whereas M5 tends to have a convex distal end. C) M5 and M6 at L4 (no M4 available). Note the convex distal end of M5 compared with the tapered end of M6. D) M4, M5 and M6 at L5.