Evolution of Teeth in Mammals

Induwara Gooneratne; M De Silva; R L Wijeyeweera

Abstract

<p>Mammals have a heterodont dentition, which has evolved from the homodont dentition of reptiles. The most primitive type of dentition is Incisor (I) 3/3 Canine (C) 1/1 Pre Molar (PM) 4/4, and Molar (M) 3/3, per quadrant seen in insectivores. All the other groups of mammals have a modified condition. The dentition of man is I 2/2 C 111PM 2/2 and M 3/3. Moreover, mammales are diphyodont, with a much simpler deciduous dentition & a more complex permanent dentition. In most mammals teeth replacement is vertical. However, in elephants, the replacement of incisors (tusks and tuches) is vertical, but that of premolars & molars is horizontal. Different dentitions of different groups of mammals have arisen mainly because of their different food habits. In certain animals, some teeth are highly specialized for particular functions, such as carnassial teeth in carnivores.</p>

Original language	English
Pages	123-123
Publication status	Published - 20 Nov 1999
Event	PURSE 1999: Peradeniya University Research Sessions 1999 - University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Duration: 20 Nov 1999 → …

Conference

Conference	PURSE 1999: Peradeniya University Research Sessions 1999
City	Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Period	20/11/99 → …

Access to Document

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

@conference{716f5dbd2a72442780dcb1bfbcf6fb51,

title = "Evolution of Teeth in Mammals",

abstract = "Mammals have a heterodont dentition, which has evolved from the homodont dentition of reptiles. The most primitive type of dentition is Incisor (I) 3/3 Canine (C) 1/1 Pre Molar (PM) 4/4, and Molar (M) 3/3, per quadrant seen in insectivores. All the other groups of mammals have a modified condition. The dentition of man is I 2/2 C 111PM 2/2 and M 3/3. Moreover, mammales are diphyodont, with a much simpler deciduous dentition \& a more complex permanent dentition. In most mammals teeth replacement is vertical. However, in elephants, the replacement of incisors (tusks and tuches) is vertical, but that of premolars \& molars is horizontal. Different dentitions of different groups of mammals have arisen mainly because of their different food habits. In certain animals, some teeth are highly specialized for particular functions, such as carnassial teeth in carnivores.",

author = "Induwara Gooneratne and \{De Silva\}, M and Wijeyeweera, \{R L\}",

year = "1999",

month = nov,

day = "20",

language = "English",

pages = "123--123",

note = "PURSE 1999: Peradeniya University Research Sessions 1999 ; Conference date: 20-11-1999",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Evolution of Teeth in Mammals

AU - Gooneratne, Induwara

AU - De Silva, M

AU - Wijeyeweera, R L

PY - 1999/11/20

Y1 - 1999/11/20

N2 - Mammals have a heterodont dentition, which has evolved from the homodont dentition of reptiles. The most primitive type of dentition is Incisor (I) 3/3 Canine (C) 1/1 Pre Molar (PM) 4/4, and Molar (M) 3/3, per quadrant seen in insectivores. All the other groups of mammals have a modified condition. The dentition of man is I 2/2 C 111PM 2/2 and M 3/3. Moreover, mammales are diphyodont, with a much simpler deciduous dentition & a more complex permanent dentition. In most mammals teeth replacement is vertical. However, in elephants, the replacement of incisors (tusks and tuches) is vertical, but that of premolars & molars is horizontal. Different dentitions of different groups of mammals have arisen mainly because of their different food habits. In certain animals, some teeth are highly specialized for particular functions, such as carnassial teeth in carnivores.

AB - Mammals have a heterodont dentition, which has evolved from the homodont dentition of reptiles. The most primitive type of dentition is Incisor (I) 3/3 Canine (C) 1/1 Pre Molar (PM) 4/4, and Molar (M) 3/3, per quadrant seen in insectivores. All the other groups of mammals have a modified condition. The dentition of man is I 2/2 C 111PM 2/2 and M 3/3. Moreover, mammales are diphyodont, with a much simpler deciduous dentition & a more complex permanent dentition. In most mammals teeth replacement is vertical. However, in elephants, the replacement of incisors (tusks and tuches) is vertical, but that of premolars & molars is horizontal. Different dentitions of different groups of mammals have arisen mainly because of their different food habits. In certain animals, some teeth are highly specialized for particular functions, such as carnassial teeth in carnivores.

M3 - Abstract

SP - 123

EP - 123

T2 - PURSE 1999: Peradeniya University Research Sessions 1999

Y2 - 20 November 1999