Tooth chipping patterns in Archaeolemur provide insight into diet and behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Archaeolemur is a recently extinct genus of lemur that is often compared to some Cercopithecidae, especially baboons. This is due in part to their derived dentition, with large anterior teeth and reduced bilophodont molars. Research involving comparative morphology, analysis of coprolites, isotopes, and enamel structure, have suggested Archaeolemur had an omnivorous diet involving mechanically challenging items. Yet, microwear analysis of posterior teeth does not necessarily support this conclusion.

Materials and methods

In this macroscopic study, dental chipping was recorded on permanent teeth of Archaeolemur from different localities (53 individuals; 447 permanent teeth; including both A. edwardsi and A. majori specimens). This study aimed to compare chipping pa

SUBMITTER: Towle I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10107942 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature