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High-level similarity of dentitions in carnivorans and rodents

Author

Listed:
  • Alistair R. Evans

    (University of Helsinki)

  • Gregory P. Wilson

    (Denver Museum of Nature and Science)

  • Mikael Fortelius

    (University of Helsinki
    University of Helsinki)

  • Jukka Jernvall

    (University of Helsinki)

Abstract

Cutting edge palaeontology Palaeontologists can reconstruct the diets of extinct animals as a pointer to their lifestyles by painstaking comparison of fossil teeth with those of comparable living animals . A new method, based on a 'virtual' teeth database compiled from 441 digital images of teeth from 81 carnivore and rodent species, is less time consuming and may be more accurate. In the example of the carnivores and rodents, the dental comparisons show that the surface complexity of tooth crowns directly reflects the food that is eaten. The sheer variety of different diets adopted by living species means that the new method is particularly useful for fossils with no close analogues among living species.

Suggested Citation

  • Alistair R. Evans & Gregory P. Wilson & Mikael Fortelius & Jukka Jernvall, 2007. "High-level similarity of dentitions in carnivorans and rodents," Nature, Nature, vol. 445(7123), pages 78-81, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:445:y:2007:i:7123:d:10.1038_nature05433
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05433
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    Cited by:

    1. Fenglian Liu & Aiwen Lin & Huanhuan Wang & Yuling Peng & Song Hong, 2016. "Global research trends of geographical information system from 1961 to 2010: a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 106(2), pages 751-768, February.
    2. Fabien Lafuma & Ian J. Corfe & Julien Clavel & Nicolas Di-Poï, 2021. "Multiple evolutionary origins and losses of tooth complexity in squamates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.

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