Single tooth can reveal Iberian wolf's weight and sex

A study led by the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon analysed 78 Iberian wolf specimens from two Portuguese scientific collections, finding that a single first lower molar can estimate body mass and sex. Body mass estimates from the tooth differed on average by just 2.4 kg from actual weight, and sex could be determined with about 79% accuracy. The Iberian wolf, endangered in Portugal with roughly 300 individuals remaining, is mostly studied through incomplete remains, making this method valuable for museum specimens and field-collected bones. Researchers say it could aid ecological monitoring and conservation efforts.