Behaviour Canis

dentition of wolf showing functions of teeth.

tooth breakage frequent result of carnivores feeding behaviour. carnivores include both pack hunters , solitary hunters. solitary hunter depends on powerful bite @ canine teeth subdue prey, , exhibits strong mandibular symphysis. in contrast, pack hunter, delivers many shallower bites, has comparably weaker mandibular symphysis. thus, researchers can use strength of mandibular symphysis in fossil carnivore specimens determine kind of hunter was – pack hunter or solitary hunter – , how consumed prey. mandibles of canids buttressed behind carnassial teeth crack bones post-carnassial teeth (molars m2 , m3). study found modern gray wolf , red wolf (c. rufus) possess greater buttressing other extant canids , extinct dire wolf. indicates these both better adapted cracking bone other canids.

a study of 9 modern carnivores indicate 1 in 4 adults had suffered tooth breakage , half of these breakages of canine teeth. highest frequency of breakage occurred in spotted hyena, known consume of prey including bone. least breakage occurred in african wild dog. gray wolf ranked between these two. eating of bone increases risk of accidental fracture due relatively high, unpredictable stresses creates. commonly broken teeth canines, followed premolars, carnassial molars, , incisors. canines teeth break because of shape , function, subjects them bending stresses unpredictable in direction , magnitude. risk of tooth fracture higher when taking , consuming large prey.

in comparison extant gray wolves, extinct beringian wolves included many more individuals moderately heavily worn teeth , greater number of broken teeth. frequencies of fracture ranged minimum of 2% found in northern rocky mountain wolf (canis lupus irremotus) maximum of 11% found in beringian wolves. distribution of fractures across tooth row differs, beringian wolves having higher frequencies of fracture incisors, carnassials, , molars. similar pattern observed in spotted hyenas, suggesting increased incisor , carnassial fracture reflects habitual bone consumption because bones gnawed incisors , cracked carnassials , molars.