Item number: X56

Year: Unknown

Material: Bone

Size: 86 x 20.7 x 15.8 mm

Weight: 24.26 g

Provenance: Private Collector, Taiwan, 2011

This specimen is a canine tooth belonging to the Felidae family, potentially a mandibular canine from a clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa).

The specimen is horizontally oriented, with the apex positioned on the right and the root on the left; the root is longer than the crown, with the mesial side situated lower and the distal side higher. In odontology, “mesial” and “distal” are technical terms describing the relative distance from the midline of the dental arch, which is typically located between the incisors. On the aspect of the specimen facing the viewer, canine grooves are present on both the mesial and distal sides; the condition of the contralateral side remains indeterminate. This conforms to common felid characteristics, which generally feature two grooves on the mesial side and one on the distal side. The grooves are notably wide and shallow, which may result from ante-mortem attrition or desquamation caused by longitudinal cracks formed as the specimen desiccated. Consequently, it is not possible to discern whether pitted canine grooves are present, which are diagnostic features of leopards (Panthera pardus) and their subspecies.

The high ratio of the anteroposterior dimension to the lateromedial dimension indicates a compressed elliptical cross-section, aligning more closely with the morphological characteristics of the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Furthermore, the maximum mesiodistal width of the root is less than the 26.03 mm average observed in tigers (Panthera tigris) and their subspecies, suggesting that the specimen may belong to a smaller tiger subspecies or represents a large clouded leopard individual. The pronounced overall curvature and the relatively short crown further support its identification as a mandibular canine. The apex appears rounded due to wear; the absence of other anthropogenic modification on the specimen suggests that the blunted state likely indicates the advanced age or pathological condition of the original animal. The pulp cavity is visible along the longitudinal axis.

For millennia, humans have maintained a tradition of hunting tigers and other large felids, both to mitigate dangers near human settlements and to acquire trophies as displays of valour. In China, Li Shizhen 李時珍 synthesised ancestral knowledge in the Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu 本草綱目), stating that tiger teeth are primarily indicated for “genital sores and carbuncles in men; the elimination of ‘labour worms’ (laochong 勞蟲); and the treatment of dog bites and madness.” According to the text, these conditions are treated by “scraping powder and administering one fangcun bi 方寸匕 (approximately one to two grams) with wine.” Furthermore, due to the tiger’s virile image, components such as tiger bone and penis have long been believed to possess exceptional efficacy in traditional andrology. Consequently, despite the threat of extinction facing tiger populations, various parts continue to circulate in medicinal markets across China and India, persisting despite prohibition. Remains of other large felids, such as leopards, are frequently substituted for tiger bone in medicinal preparations. Since AD 1993, endangered medicinal materials such as tiger bone have been removed from the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, currently being replaced by bone meal from pigs, dogs, goats, and deer. In Taiwan, the Rukai 魯凱族 and Paiwan 排灣族 peoples utilise clouded leopard teeth to fashion pendants or headdresses, while the pelts are crafted into waistcoats or clothing.

物件編號: X56

年代: 不詳

材料: 骨頭

尺寸: 86 x 20.7 x 15.8 mm

重量: 24.26 g

來源: 台灣私人收藏 2011

這是一枚貓科(Felidae)動物的犬齒，可能是雲豹的下頜犬齒。

該牙齒標本呈橫向擺放，牙尖在右，牙根在左，牙根較牙冠長，近中側(mesial side)較靠下，遠中側(distal side)較靠上。近、遠中即牙科醫學中，描述距離全口牙弓中線(一般位於門牙之間)較近或較遠一側的術語。牙齒標本的觀者側的近中和遠中側各有一道犬齒溝槽(canine grooves)，另一側則不明，基本符合貓科動物的常見特徵：一般於近中側有兩道，遠中側有一道溝槽。溝槽寬度較寬且淺，可能是來自標本生前的磨蝕，或因標本乾燥後因產生縱向裂紋而剝落，也因此，無法辨識是否具有帶坑洞的犬齒溝槽(pitted canine grooves)，這是豹及其亞種的特徵。前後徑(anteroposterior)與內外徑(lateromedial)比例較大，亦即其橫截面呈現為較扁的橢圓，更符合雲豹(Neofelis nebulosa)的特徵。其最大齒周徑長小於虎及其亞種平均的26.03公釐，暗示該標本可能屬於虎的小型亞種，或是雲豹的大型個體。整體曲度較大，且牙冠部分較短，更可能為下頜犬齒。牙尖已被磨圓，從標本上並未出現其他人類加工痕跡來推測，磨鈍的牙齒可能暗示了原主的年紀或疾病。

從縱向可觀察該標本的牙髓孔。

數千年來，人類長期有獵捕老虎等大型貓科動物的傳統，既是為了排除人類活動地區附近的危險，也是為了獲取能彰顯武勇的戰利品。

在中國，明代李時珍《本草綱目》總結前人經驗，言虎牙主治：「丈夫陰瘡及疽。殺勞蟲，治犬傷，發狂。刮末，酒服方寸匕。」亦即可以治癒男性陰部的潰瘍或膿腫，治癒肺結核、狂犬病，削刮下約一至二克的粉末後，以酒送服。除此之外，由於老虎的陽剛形象，長久以來虎骨、虎鞭等部位更是被認為有男科方面的奇效。因此儘管老虎種群數量面臨著瀕臨絕種的威脅，其各部位仍流通於中、印等國的藥材市場上，屢禁不絕。類似的貓科大型動物遺骨，如豹等，也會充作虎骨作為藥材使用。自公元1993年起，虎骨等瀕危生物藥材已於《中華人民共和國藥典》中刪除，現由豬、狗、羊、鹿等骨粉替代。

臺灣的魯凱族、排灣族，則會將雲豹牙齒製成掛飾或頭冠，毛皮則製成背心或衣服。