ppt课件-evolutionofthehorsealookatteeth-virginia.pptVIP

EVOLUTION OF THE HORSE: A LOOK AT TEETH Kaelin Creange The Question at Hand How have horses’ teeth adapted to their more evolutionarily recent niche of grazers versus browsers? The Modern Equine Skull Long face to accommodate large crown reserves of grinding teeth, and set of cropping teeth in the front Deep mandible, allowing for large masseter muscles that enable grinding type mastication. Tooth Structure Horse teeth have evolved hypsodonty, which means they have a high crown. This allows them more tooth to wear down, thus being able to utilize a tougher food source Presence of cementum increases the hardness of the tooth. Also creates ridges on the occlusal surface of the tooth, which aids in more effective grinding Born with full set of fully developed adult teeth Milk teeth precede the eruption of the adult teeth, which will continuously erupt throughout their lifetime. “crown” is described as the enamel covered area above the gum line The Mouth INCISORS Center Lateral Corner WOLF TOOTH (premolar 1) MOLARS (3) PREMOLARS (3) CANINES (premolars and molars are virtually the same size and shape) Mastication Grinding, circular motion Aids in eating grasses, which are an abrasive, fibrous food source Condemns the teeth to a great deal of wear (avg 2-3mm/yr) Looking at the Evolution Early horses (Eohippus, Orohippus, Mesohippus) Short crowned No cement on the outside of tooth Premolars smaller than molars (4 premolars, 3 molars) Later horses (Merychippus, Pliohippus, Equus) High crowned (hypsodonty) Teeth covered in cement Premolars resemble molars (except pm1; very small) A. Example of a brachydont (human)B. Examle of a hypsodont (horse) Caroline A. E. Stromberg Examined the hypothesis that hypsodonty in equids evolved as an adaptation to the emergence of grass-dominated habitats Compared the timing of the emergence of the taxa first displaying hypsodonty (along with sister taxa having mesodont and brachydont teeth) with the emergence of grass-d