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Science 26 September 1975:
Vol. 189. no. 4208, pp. 1095 - 1098
DOI: 10.1126/science.808855
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Articles

Science, Vol 189, Issue 4208, 1095-1098
Copyright © 1975 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Incisor size and diet in anthropoids with special reference to Cercopithecidae

WL Hylander

In 57 species of anthropoids relative size of incisors in highly correlated with diet. Anthropoids that feed primarily on large food objects (large fruits) have larger incisors than those that feed on smaller food objects (berries or leaves). This difference reflects a need for more extensive incisal preparation of larger food objects before mastication. Extensive incisal preparation causes increased tooth wear, therefore, enlarged incisors are probably an adaptive response to increase their wear potential.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The feeding biomechanics and dietary ecology of Australopithecus africanus.
D. S. Strait, G. W. Weber, S. Neubauer, J. Chalk, B. G. Richmond, P. W. Lucas, M. A. Spencer, C. Schrein, P. C. Dechow, C. F. Ross, et al. (2009)
PNAS 106, 2124-2129
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Diet and the evolution of the earliest human ancestors.
M. F. Teaford and P. S. Ungar (2000)
PNAS 97, 13506-13511
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)