Mammals diversified teeth into separate tools to bypass trade-offs.
Evidence
The success of mammals may be attributed in no small measure to the fact that they stumbled on a mechanism to circumvent this trade-off, at least partially. Mammalian carnivores uncoupled the evolution of subsets of their teeth, so that each set evolved to function like a different tool. This way the mammalian jaw could carry three or four tools (for example, canines, molars, and premolars), and each could tackle a distinct task. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 89
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Mammals split teeth into specialized tools for each task; Wolves evolved dual-purpose teeth and pack tactics to subdue oversized prey — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 74; Differentiated teeth only work with careful, deliberate chewing. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 92 (+1 more)
Related
- Mammals split teeth into specialized tools for each task (similarity 0.95)
- Differentiated teeth only work with careful, deliberate chewing. (similarity 0.94)
- One in four carnivore teeth is chipped, cracked, or shattered. (similarity 0.87)
- Wolves evolved dual-purpose teeth and pack tactics to subdue oversized prey (similarity 0.85)
- A quarter of carnivore teeth are chipped or cracked (similarity 0.83)
- Lacking specialized teeth, theropods never diversified ecologically like mammals. (similarity 0.83)
- Dinosaurs never diversified weapon styles the way mammals did (similarity 0.82)
- One tooth shape cannot both pierce, shear, and crush bone. (similarity 0.82)
Broader Connections
- Differentiated teeth only work with careful, deliberate chewing.
#qualifies(0.60) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 92 - One in four carnivore teeth is chipped, cracked, or shattered.
#complicates(0.50) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 93