Class Mammalia

Dental Formulas
Mammals can be identified by their dental formula, which is an expression of the number of each type of tooth on one side of the upper
jaw over the number of each type of tooth on one side of the lower jaw. For example, a mammal whose dental formula is 3/3, 0/1, 3/3,
2/3 would have a total of 36 teeth. Each side of the upper jaw would have 3 incisors, 0 canines, 3 premolars, and 2 molars. Each side
of the lower jaw would have 3 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars, and 3 molars. You won't need to memorize formulas, but know how
write these out for easy taxa: humans, primates, cats & foxes if you are given a skull.

Most mammal skulls (unless noted) have thecodont attachment, a heterodont pattern and diphyodont replacement.
Brachyodont: short-crowned teeth Hypsodont: high crowned teeth, either selenodont or lophodont
Have either bunodont or secodont cusp patterns. cusp patterns. Flat occlusal surfaces maximize surface for grinding.
Differential wear of enamel & dentine create cutting surfaces.

Bunodont: (low cusps) 2 nd & 3rd right upper molars of a pig Selenodont: crescent shaped enamel ridges of an elk, or deer.
Enamel & dentine has a crescent moon shape that runs down the
anterior-posterior axis for lateral grinding of teeth.

Secodont (sectorial): high cusps, narrow slicing blades Lophodont: complex folds in enamel ridges; enamel (blue) &
dentine (pink), the whorls interconnect generally in a side-to-side
pattern for anterior-posterior jaw action, such as rodents & horses.

Carnivore: upper PM4 – lower M1 are called the carnassials
The largest pair of secodont teeth (shearing pair of teeth) of
the Order Carnivora.
Ever-growing Incisors: The incisors of rodents & lagomorphs keep
growing & must be worn down over the rodent’s life. The edges are
kept sharp because the outer surface is enamel & the posterior side
is dentine (dentine is softer & wears faster). Dark coloration of
enamel may be minerals such as iron that harden the enamel.
 Piscivores (fish)
Fur Seal Porpoise skull
Tooth Shape: homodont; nearly uniform, sharp conical teeth. Tooth Shape: homodont; nearly uniform, small conical teeth.
Crown Height: brachyodont (low-crowned) Crown Height: brachyodont (low-crowned)
Atypical Replacement: one set, no replacement; monophyodont

Carnivores that slice meat

Cat
Identify the 4 types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars & molars
Tooth Shapes: large canines, secodont (slicing) pre-molars & molars
have sharp-edged blades. Upper molar reduced.
Crown Height: brachyodont
Dental Formula: 3/3 1/1 3/2 1/1
Fox
Identify the 4 types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars & molars
Tooth Shapes: large canines, secodont (slicing) pre-molars & molars
have sharp-edged blades. Two upper molars flat to crush food.
Crown Height: brachyodont
Dental Formula: 3/3 1/1 4/4 2/3

Durophagy (shellfish, bivalves)

Walrus
Tooth Shape: simple, flattened pre-molars/molars
Crown Height: brachyodont (low-crowned) molars & pre-molars.
Enlarged canines may be used in male competition.
 Insectivores (insects)
Opossum Moles
Tooth Shapes: V or W shaped cutting surfaces Tooth Shapes: V or W shaped cutting surfaces
Crown Height: brachyodont Crown Height: brachyodont
Diet: hard-bodied insects, e.g. beetles; but also omnivorous Diet: hard-bodied insects, e.g. beetles; but also carnivorous.

Armadillo Pangolin
Tooth Shape: reduced, simple pegs. Teeth absent
Crown Height: brachyodont Capture prey with their long tongue.
Diet: soft-bodied insects, e.g. termites, larvae. Diet: soft-bodied insects, e.g. termites, larvae.

Omnivores (mix of plant & animal food)

Primate, humans Pig
Identify the 4 types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars & molars. Identify the 4 types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars & molars.
Tooth Shapes: small cusps on molars & pre-molars; bunodont Tooth Shapes: small cusps on molars & pre-molars; bunodont
Crown Height: brachyodont Crown Height: brachyodont
Dental Formula: Human 2/2 1/1 2/2 3/3
Human Pig

Baboon? Pig
 Herbivores (leaves & grasses)
Rodent
Rodents have ever-growing incisors for gnawing wood & plants. They
have a gap (diastema) between incisors & premolars/molars.
Tooth Shape: large, flat surfaced pre-molars & molars have exposed
edges of enamel & dentine that act as mincing blades to grind plants.
Crown Height: hypsodont (high-crowned) molars & pre-molars
Dental Formula: many (not all rodents) 1/1 0/0 1/1 3/3
Horse
Tooth Shape: large, flat surfaced pre-molars & molars that have
exposed edges of enamel & dentine. The enamel ridges act as
mincing blades to grind plants.
Crown Height: hypsodont (high-crowned) molars & pre-molars
Dental Formula: 3/3 1/1 3/3 3/3
Elephant molar or premolar
Rabbit
Rabbits have ever-growing incisors for gnawing wood & plants. They
have a large gap (diastema) between incisors & premolars/molars.
Tooth Shape: large, flat surfaced pre-molars & molars that have
exposed edges of enamel & dentine that act as mincing blades.
Crown Height: hypsodont (high-crowned) molars & pre-molars
Dental Formula: 2/1 0/0 3/2 3/3
Deer, Moose, Cow
Tooth Shape: large, flat surfaced pre-molars & molars that have
exposed edges of enamel & dentine. The enamel ridges act as mincing
blades to grind plants. Upper incisors are absent.
Crown Height: hypsodont (high-crowned) molars & pre-molars
Dental Formula: 0/3 0/1 3/3 3/3