Question

What is the relationship between diet/ecology and tooth crown size, shape, cusp height/sharpness, and enamel thickness? Describe the characteristics of the teeth associated with frugivory, insectivory, folivory, and ominivory.

Answer 1

There is a relationship between diet and tooth crown size, shape, cusp height/sharpness, and enamel thickness.

Phosphorus found in eggs, fish, lean meat, dairy, nuts and beans is good for strong teeth.

1. Canines are strong and pointed for tearing food.

   For example, you might use them to tear off a piece of tough meat.

2. Molars are broad and flat on top for crushing and grinding food.

    For example, You might use them to grind up nutreants.

3. Premolars share features of both canines and molars.

    For example, you might use them for tearing and grinding food.

4. Incisors are sharp and blade like for cutting food.

For example, You might use them to bite into an apple.

Characterstics of the teeth:

Ther are four types of teeth: Incisors, canines, premolars and molars. Fig.1 Tooth anatomy.

1. Frugivory :

• Humans are designed to eat mostly fruit. Fruit is a preffered food type.
• Canines for defense, Big and Flattened incisors, Flattened molars.

            Example: Monkeys and Chimps.

2. Insectivary:

• Insectivores incisors and canines have sharo cusps for breaking open exoskeletons of insects.

                       Example: lizards (e.g.chameleons, geckos),

                       Echidnasn    anteaters, Spiders.

3. Folivory:

• Folivores teeth are adpted for shredding leaves. Folivorous animals tend to have long disgestive tracts and slow metabolisms.

            Example: Mammls -Elephants, sloths and

            Various species of monkey.

4. Omnivory:

• Varopis types of mammals are ombivorous in the wild.

          Example: Pigs, Bears, Opossums, skunks,mic and rat.