Question

What are two main types of changes that have occurred in the evolution of primate teeth from the primitive mammalian pattern?

Explain why teeth are so important in evolutionary and functional studies

what are two important ways to classify tooth form

Answer 1

A) Main changes are,

* Reduction in the number of teeth

* Elaboration of cusp pattern of molars

Ancestors have :.44 teeths
Paleocene (primitive primates): 40 teeths
NW Monkeys: 36 teeths
OW Monkeys and Apes: 32 teeths
Exception is that, Marmosets and Tamarins have 32 because they couldn't fit all those teeth in their mouths
Prosimians have dental combs ,incisors tilt outward.

B)There are many things that make teeth special.

They contain enamel,hardest biological substance, palaeontologists , Anthropologists alike relay on their unique preservation.An individuals age can be estimated from tooth sections.Forensic science relies heavily on tooth records.

Cusp patterns,tooth shapes and their arrangement in dental pattern are unique to each species and as indicative of a species as DNA.Also provide major basis for adaptation linked to exploitation of new feeding niches.

C)Tooth form is classified as

ADULT TEETH(PERMANENT TEETH/SECONDARY TEETH)

BABY TEETH(TEMPORARY TEETH/PRIMARY TEETH)

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