Hmotnost, chrup a dlouhověkost koní Převalského (Equus przewalskii) v Zoologické zahradě v Praze (Perissodactyla: Equidae) [Body weight, dentition and longevity in Equus przewalskii kept in the Prague Zoo (Perissodactyla: Equidae)]

Pages	133–136
DOI	10.2478/lynx-2016-0009
Citation	VOLF, Jiří. Hmotnost, chrup a dlouhověkost koní Převalského (Equus przewalskii) v Zoologické zahradě v Praze (Perissodactyla: Equidae) [Body weight, dentition and longevity in Equus przewalskii kept in the Prague Zoo (Perissodactyla: Equidae)]. Lynx, new series. Prague: National Museum, 2016, 47(1), 133–136. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lynx-2016-0009. ISSN 0024-7774 (print), 1804-6460 (online). Also available from: https://publikace.nm.cz/en/periodicals/lns/47-1/hmotnost-chrup-a-dlouhovekost-koni-prevalskeho-equus-przewalskii-v-zoologicke-zahrade-v-praze-perissodactyla-equidae-body-weight-dentition-and-longevity-in-equus-przewalskii-kept-in-the-prague-zoo-perissodactyla-equidae

Lynx, new series | 2016/47/1

The survival rate in ungulates is limited by tooth-abrasion that makes it difficult for senescent individuals to feed effectively. I examined correlation between age, body weight and dentition condition in the Przewalski’s horses (Equus przewalskii) kept in the Prague Zoo. The body weight of thirty adult horses aged 2–25 years ranged 250–300 kg. The individuals older than 30 years showed a significant loss in body weight up to one third of the normal condition. However, the weight loss was less pronounced in alpha individuals. For example, the tallion “Uran” weighted 270 kg even after he reached the age of 30 years. The weight loss in senescent individuals was generally correlated with pathological changes in dentition caused by gradual abrasion of the teeth. On the contrary, only six individuals (less than 3%) kept in the Prague Zoo lived longer than 30 years, although the mare “Verona” reached the age of almost 37 years which is the highest age ever recorded in the Przewalski’s horse. Anyway, the tooth-abrasion is an important factor leading to body weight loss in the majority of the senescent Przewalski’s horses.

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