Lagomorph and Cavy dental anatomy: which statement is true about deciduous peg teeth?

• A. Deciduous peg teeth - Replaced at 4 weeks
• B. Molars are permanent
• C. Deciduous peg teeth - Replaced at 2 weeks
• D. Incisors are missing

Answer: (C)

In lagomorphs and cavies, a small, temporary set of incisors known as peg teeth sits behind the main incisor pair. These deciduous teeth are shed and replaced by the permanent incisors as the mouth matures, and this replacement typically occurs by about two weeks of age. That timing shows the peg teeth are a transient juvenile feature that gives way to the adult dentition early in life, aligning with rapid dental development in these species. The other statements don’t fit because the peg teeth aren’t replaced at four weeks, the point concerns the incisors rather than molars, and these animals do have incisors rather than missing them.