Tooth wear was studied in two Iberian populations of Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838. Age-specific variation in type of wear and molar height was compared between sites. Age-specific wear of Mi and M3 was different between the two populations. The relationship of molar height and age (assumed to be wear rate) was also different in each population. The largest differences were found if we consider tooth wear rate as the sum of Mi height + height of mandible. The population of ibex from Gredos appeared to have a much faster tooth wear rate than of Cazorla. The relationship between the results and food types in the different mountain ranges are discussed. A positive relationship was found between tooth wear and the presence of abrasive elements in the diet. Tooth wear appears to bo highly population-specific and this implies important consequences for their life history. Our results question the validity of age-determination techniques based on tooth wear for inter-populational comparisons.
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