Mammals split teeth into specialized tools for each task

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 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Wolves are the “jacks-of-all-trades” of the hyper-carnivores. Their long, slender jaws snap shut with amazing speed, and their sturdy canines grip flanks or legs of large prey as they wrestle them to the ground. Wolves hunt in packs and, by pulling from several directions at once, they can topple animals far larger than themselves. After the kill, wolves tear into carcasses using dual-purpose molars. Sharp outer edges work like shears to slice through sinew and flesh, but these teeth are still broad enough to crush small bones. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 74 (#expands, via linked claim)

Cats are specialized in another way. They can supinate their forelimbs—twist their wrists and pull the pads of their feet inward, facing their bodies. Flexible forelimbs let these animals cling to their prey and position themselves for the careful execution of their powerful, killing bite. Their canines are long and narrow, which makes them great for piercing but vulnerable to breaking if they get yanked to the side. A cat that can hang on to its prey in the throes of an attack can pierce its long teeth straight through the skin in a calculated stab. Failure to hold on results in torque during the bite, and may cause the canines to snap. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 78 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Mammals diversified teeth into separate tools to bypass trade-offs. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 89; Wolves evolved dual-purpose teeth and pack tactics to subdue oversized prey — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 74; Cat canines are piercing weapons vulnerable to side torque during hunts — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 78 (+1 more)

Related

• Mammals diversified teeth into separate tools to bypass trade-offs. (similarity 0.95)
• Wolves evolved dual-purpose teeth and pack tactics to subdue oversized prey (similarity 0.90)
• Differentiated teeth only work with careful, deliberate chewing. (similarity 0.88)
• One in four carnivore teeth is chipped, cracked, or shattered. (similarity 0.86)
• Cat canines are piercing weapons vulnerable to side torque during hunts (similarity 0.85)
• A quarter of carnivore teeth are chipped or cracked (similarity 0.83)
• One tooth shape cannot both pierce, shear, and crush bone. (similarity 0.81)
• Lacking specialized teeth, theropods never diversified ecologically like mammals. (similarity 0.80)
• Jaw shape trades off between bite force and bite speed (similarity 0.80)
• Dinosaurs never diversified weapon styles the way mammals did (similarity 0.80)
• Jaw length trades bite force against bite speed across carnivore species. (similarity 0.79)
• Sabertooths’ massive canines required body changes that made movement awkward. (similarity 0.79)
• Hyena jaw geometry trades closing speed for bone-crushing force (similarity 0.78)
• Hyena jaws trade closing speed for crushing power (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Mammals diversified teeth into separate tools to bypass trade-offs. #corroborates (0.95) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 89
• Wolves evolved dual-purpose teeth and pack tactics to subdue oversized prey #expands (0.75) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 74
• Cat canines are piercing weapons vulnerable to side torque during hunts #exemplifies (0.60) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 78
• One in four carnivore teeth is chipped, cracked, or shattered. #complicates (0.40) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 93