The tarsier has a dental formula of 2-1-3-3/1-1-3-3. How many incisors does a tarsier have? a. 2 b?

Question

The tarsier has a dental formula of 2-1-3-3/1-1-3-3. How many incisors does a tarsier have?

a. 2

b. 3

c. 4

d. 6

Answer 1

D.  6 A dental formula describes one half of a jaw, starting with the incisors, ending with the molars.  In the case of the Tarsier, the formula is different in the maxilla and the mandible, hence the two formula.  

So, double the numbers in the formula and add to get the number of teeth.

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