Dentition and biteforce Canis

diagram of wolf skull key features labelled



eurasian wolf skull

dentition relates arrangement of teeth in mouth, dental notation upper-jaw teeth using upper-case letters denote incisors, c canines, p premolars, , m molars, , lower-case letters i, c, p , m denote mandible teeth. teeth numbered using 1 side of mouth , front of mouth back. in carnivores, upper premolar p4 , lower molar m1 form carnassials used in scissor-like action shear muscle , tendon of prey.

canids use premolars cutting , crushing except upper fourth premolar p4 (the upper carnassial) used cutting. use molars grinding except lower first molar m1 (the lower carnassial) has evolved both cutting , grinding depending on candid s dietary adaptation. on lower carnassial trigonid used slicing , talonid used grinding. ratio between trigonid , talonid indicates carnivore s dietary habits, larger trigonid indicating hypercarnivore , larger talonid indicating more omnivorous diet. because of low variability, length of lower carnassial used provide estimate of carnivore s body size.

a study of estimated bite force @ canine teeth of large sample of living , fossil mammalian predators, when adjusted body mass, found placental mammals bite force @ canines (in newtons/kilogram of body weight) greatest in extinct dire wolf (163), followed among modern canids 4 hypercarnivores prey on animals larger themselves: african hunting dog (142), gray wolf (136), dhole (112), , dingo (108). bite force @ carnassials showed similar trend canines. predator s largest prey size influenced biomechanical limits.